Although he was originally a member of the Imperial Family, he demoted himself to be adopted by the SAIONJI family because Harusue, Hirosue SAIONJI's son, died at an early age and so he became heir to the Saionji family as Kinzumi SAIONJI.
もともとは皇族であったが、西園寺寛季の子の西園寺治季が早世したために、臣籍降下養子による臣籍降下して寛季の養子となり、西園寺公潔として西園寺家を相続した。