He was a trustworthy assistant of Michinaga who supported the reign of Emperor Ichijo, and was regarded as one of the "Four superior court nobles in the court of Emperor Ichijo" along with FUJIWARA no Kinto, FUJIWARA no Yukinari, and MINAMOTO no Toshikata.
道長の腹心の一人として一条天皇の治世を支え、藤原公任、藤原行成、源俊賢とともに『一条朝の四納言』と称された。