As the second son of FUJIWARA no Kinzane, his mother was FUJIWARA no Koshi (a daughter of FUJIWARA no Takakata) and he was an older paternal half-brother to Taikenmonin FUJIWARA no Shoshi.
藤原公実の次男。母は藤原光子（藤原隆方女）。待賢門院藤原璋子の異母兄。