He became the disciple of Rinzai Sect Shoichi School monk Tozan Tansho at age 8 and practiced Zen before going on to practice under Kian Soen and Tokei Tokugo after Tozan's death.
8歳で臨済宗聖一派東山湛照（とうざんたんしょう）に師事して参禅し、東山の没後は規庵祖円・桃渓徳悟らについて修行した。