Meanwhile, he became the 4th chief priest of Shojoke-in Temple at Ichijo, Kyoto and made efforts in missionary work of the Jodo sect, and his doctrine was called Ichijo-ryu (Nishitani school.)
一方、京都一条の清浄華院第4世の住持となり、浄土宗の布教に力を尽くし、然空の法流は一条流（西谷流）と称されるようになった。