the five regent houses; five Fujiwara families serving as imperial regents
Historical term referring to the five families of the Fujiwara clan (Konoe, Kujo, Nijo, Ichijo, and Takatsukasa) that monopolized the positions of sesshō and kanpaku from the Kamakura period onward. Used in discussions of Japanese court history.
See also: 摂関
The five regent houses produced sesshō and kanpaku from the Kamakura period onward.
The Konoe family is considered the head of the five regent houses.