He was appointed Sa-hyo no suke (Undersecretary of the Left Division of Middle Palace Guards) of the rank of Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) in January, 1129, at the age of 12, and this surprised FUJIWARA no Munetada, who commented, 'I do not need to even tell how surprising that was for everyone ("Chu-yu-ki" (A Diary of FUJIWARA no Munetada)).'
大治4年（1129年）正月に12歳で従五位下左兵衛佐に叙任されたことについて、藤原宗忠は「人耳目を驚かすか、言ふに足らず」と驚愕している（『中右記』）。