He was noted for his distinguished war service as a young military commander while assisting his father, TAIRA no Kiyomori, in the Hogen as well as Heiji Wars. He was promoted as his father became successful, and in the end, he became an Inner Minister of the Shonii (Senior Second Rank) rank of the Konoefu (the Headquarters of the Inner Palace Guards).
保元の乱・平治の乱で若き武将として父平清盛を助けて相次いで戦功を上げ、父の立身とともに累進し、最終的には近衛府、正二位内大臣にまで出世した。