He was born as the second prince of Emperor Reizei, and his mother was the eldest daughter of the dajo daijin (grand minister) FUJIWARA no Kaneie, Zo-Ko-Go-Gu FUJIWARA no Choshi.
冷泉天皇の第二皇子に生まれ、母は摂政太政大臣藤原兼家の長女・贈皇后宮藤原超子。