He learned under SUGAWARA no Koreyoshi, and served three generations of emperors, Emperors Yozei, Koko, and Uda; became Shoshiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) and Sangi (consultant) after serving as Omi no kuni no kami (Governor of Omi Province), Togu gakushi (Teacher of the Classics of the Crown Prince), Minbu shoyu (Junior Assistant Minister of Popular Affairs), Monjo hakase (professor of literature), Shikibu no taifu (Senior Assistant Minister of Ministry of Ceremonial), Kageyu no kami (chief investigator of the records of outgoing officials), and Sadaiben (major controller of the left).
菅原是善に学び、陽成天皇、光孝天皇、宇多天皇の3代に仕え、近江国守、東宮学士、民部少輔、文章博士、式部大輔、勘解由長官、左大弁を歴任したのち、正四位下、参議となる。