His fathers was the third son of FUJIWARA no Tameie, and his mother was his legal wife and a daughter of Yoritsuna UTSUNOMIYA (Nyudo Rensho), who was a powerful clan in Shimotsuke Province.
父は藤原為家で3男、母は正室の下野国の豪族宇都宮頼綱（入道蓮生）の娘（頼綱娘）。