According to 'Gukansho' (Jottings of a Fool), a history book written by Jien (the son of Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor) Fujiwara no Tadamichi) of Tendai-zasu (head priest of the Tendai Sect), he joined hands with Taira no Kiyomori, along with his father Muneshige, when the Heiji War occurred in 1159.
天台座主慈円（関白藤原忠通の子）が著した歴史書「愚管抄」五によると、1159年（平治元年）平治の乱がおきた時には、父宗重とともに平清盛に加勢したという。