He was born the third son of MINAMOTO no Takaakira, who had the title of Nishi no miya no Sadaijin (Minister of the Left for Nishinomiya), and his mother was the former wife of Takaakira and the third daughter of FUJIWARA no Morosuke, who had the title of Udaijin (Minister of the Right).
西宮左大臣源高明の三男として生まれ、母は高明の先妻である右大臣藤原師輔三女。