Tokihira was the eldest son to the Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor), FUJIWARA no Mototsune, and Tokihira achieved fame early; however, as Tokihira was still young when his father died, Emperor Uda commenced a direct imperial rule and appointed imperial family member the Minamoto clan and scholar SUGAWARA no Michizane.
関白藤原基経の長男であり、若くして栄達するが、父の死の時点ではまだ年若く、宇多天皇は親政をはじめ、皇親である源氏や学者の菅原道真を起用した。