He belonged to the line of FUJIWARA no Michikane, of the Northern House of the Fujiwara clan (the great-great-grandson of Michikane), and his father was the provisional governor of Mikawa Province, FUJIWARA no Shigekane.
藤原北家藤原道兼流（道兼の玄孫）で、父は三河国権守藤原重兼。