He was born in Harima Province (now Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture) on February 8, 1561 to the Reizei family. At the age of seven or eight he was sent to the Shōkoku-ji temple to become a Zen Buddhist priest.
He was born in Harima Province (now Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture) on February 8, 1561, into the Reizei family, and at age seven or eight he was sent to the Shōkoku-ji temple to become a Zen Buddhist priest.