He was born as the second son of Yoshikiyo AWAZU, a low rank official serving the Arisugawanomiya family, on October 16, 1789 and had a childhood name of Takesaburo.
寛政元年8月28日（旧暦）、有栖川宮家の諸大夫・粟津義清の次男として誕生し、幼名を武三郎と称した。