Later he went into Mt. Koya to learn the Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, and in 1235, he became Saidai-ji Hoto-in Temple Jisai-so (a priest who keep one's purity by upholding religious precepts for Buddhist services at Saidai-ji Hoto-in Temple) intending to revive the precepts of Buddhism.
のち高野山に入り真言密教を学んだが、1235年（嘉禎元年）戒律の復興を志して西大寺宝塔院持斎僧となった。