He was born as the third son of MINAMOTO no Yorinobu, the first head of Kawachi-Genji (Minamoto clan) in Tsuboi, Ishikawa Country, Kawachi Province (present Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture), and first his base was in Omi Province.
河内源氏初代源頼信の三男として河内国石川郡(大阪府)壷井（現大阪府羽曳野市）に生まれ、当初近江国に本拠を置いていた。