He was born as a son of FUJIWARA no Tsunekiyo from the local ruling family of Watari County, Mutsu Province (later Iwaki Province), and a daughter of ABE no Yoritoki.
陸奥国（後の磐城国）亘理郡の豪族藤原経清と、安倍頼時の娘の間の子として生まれる。