Amid the political domination by the Taira family, he was granted Jusanmi (Junior Third Rank), the highest ever granted to anybody in the Seiwa-Genji (Minamoto clan), with the highest rank before him being Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade); thus, he was called Gen-zanmi.
平家が専横を極める中、それまで正四位下を極位としていた清和源氏としては突出した従三位に叙せられたことから源三位（げんざんみ）と称された。