In 900 he was appointed as a sangi (consultant), but he petitioned the Emperor and had his uncle FUJIWARA no Kiyotsune appointed to the post instead, so that he could then himself be appointed as the major controller of the right.
昌泰3年（900年）参議に任じられるが奏請して、叔父の藤原清経と代わり、自らは右大弁となる。