일찍이 불교에 귀의하여 범어사의 명정학교[현 청룡초등학교]에서 수학하였으며, 1919년 3·1 운동이 일어났을 때에 범어사 지방학림에 재학 중이었다.
He turned to Buddhism and studied at the Myeongjeong School of Beomeosa Temple (now Cheongnyong Elementary School, and was attending the Beomeosa Local School when the March 1st Movement took place in 1919.