He worked as kanpaku (chief advisor to the Emperor) for the Emperor Enyu and the Emperor Kazan and later was appointed to Daijodaijin (Grand minister of state), but he could not become a maternal relative of the emperor and was defeated in a political dispute with FUJIWARA no Kaneie and resigned as kanpaku during the enthronement of the Emperor Ichijo and died a disappointed man.
円融天皇・花山天皇両天皇の関白で後に太政大臣となるが、天皇と外戚関係を得ることができず、藤原兼家との政争に敗れて、一条天皇の即位とともに関白を辞し、失意のうちに死去した。