He was born into the Sanjo family, the main branch of Kanin line of the Northern House of the Fujiwara clan and one of the Seiga family, who had been entitled to take the post of Dajo Daijin.
藤原北家閑院流の嫡流で、太政大臣まで昇任できた清華家のひとつ三条家の生まれ。