At the beginning of his political career in 898, he only achieved the low-ranking position of a junior third rank official in Sanuki Province, but after Emperor Daigo--to whom he was related by marriage--ascended to the throne he gained appointments of greater importance; in 903 he was appointed Uchikuranosuke (assistant chief of the inner palace warehouses), promoted to Kuroudo (Imperial Secretary Officer) in 909, further promoted to Kurudo gashira (Chief of the Imperial Secretariat) in 917, followed by Sangi (Royal Advisor) in 921, Chunagon (vice-councilor of state), Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank), in 927, and finally in 930 held the posts of both Chunagon and Uemon no kami (Chief of the Right Gate Guard).
政治家としては最初は昌泰元年（898年）の讃岐国権掾という下級官人に過ぎなかったが、醍醐天皇即位後はその外戚として重用され、延喜3年（903年）内蔵助に抜擢され、延喜9年（909年）に蔵人、延喜17年（917年）に蔵人頭、延喜21年（921年）に参議、延長_(元号)5年（927年）に従三位権中納言、延長8年（930年）に中納言兼右衛門督に累進した。