Munekiyo was born in Sanuki Province and became a Buddhist monk of Myoshin-ji Temple of the Rinzai sect in Kyoto at the age of 15, and later learned the Obaku sect of Buddhism as well.
讃岐国出身で15歳のときに京都の臨済宗妙心寺の僧侶となり、後に黄檗宗も学んだ。