Although he was the legitimate son of MINAMOTO no Yoshiie, the third heir of Kawachi-Genji (Minamoto clan), he committed looting and killing of a government official in Kyushu when he was assigned zuryo (custodial governor) in Tsushima, then he was exiled to Oki Province.
河内源氏三代目棟梁源義家の嫡男だったが、対馬受領に任じられたとき九州で略奪を働き、官吏を殺害したため、隠岐国へ流された。