He was born of a family that was distinguished both politically and artistically, and had cousins such as Prince Tomohira, Minister of the Right FUJIWARA no Sanesuke and the calligrapher FUJIWARA no Sari (Sukemasa).
また、いとこに具平親王、右大臣藤原実資、書家藤原佐理がおり、政治的にも芸術的にも名門の出である。