He was a son of Tamemitsu OE of the Oe Daiguji (Shinto priest of Inbe-jinja Shrine in Oe County) family and was originally a Zaichokanjin (local official in the Heian and Kamakura periods) of Awa Province; however, he then was adopted by FUJIWARA no Ienari, became a retainer of Shinzei who was supposedly his foster brother, and was promoted up to Saemon no jo (third-ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards).
麻植大宮司家（麻植郡忌部神社祠官）の麻植為光の子で、もとは阿波国の在庁官人であったが、藤原家成の養子、乳兄弟とされる信西の家来となり、左衛門尉に昇る。