He was treated seriously as the older brother of Empress Fujitsubo and a maternal relative of Emperor Reizei, and considered to have a reputation second to Genji and Daijo-daijin (Grand minister of state) (Tono Chujo [the first secretary's captain]).
藤壺中宮の兄、冷泉帝の外戚として、源氏や太政大臣（頭中将）に次ぐ声望があるとされ、世間からも重く扱われた（「若菜下」）。