He showed a talent not only for waka poetry but also for poetry in Chinese as well as instrumental music; he was knowledgeable about court ceremonials, although his career ended at the post of Acting Major Counselor, Senior Second Rank, because he was pushed aside politically by FUJIWARA no Michinaga.
和歌の他、漢詩、管弦にもすぐれた才能を見せ、有職故実に通じていたが、政治的には藤原道長におされ、正二位権大納言にとどまった。