He was born as the third son of Ninnajinomiya Shodaibu (aristocracy lower than Kugyo) Moriyuki WAKABAYASHI in Saiin-mura, Kadono District (present day Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City), the suburbs of Kyoto.
仁和寺宮諸大夫若林盛之の3男として京都郊外の葛野郡西院（現在の京都市右京区）で生まれる。