He entered into the priesthood at Kennin-ji Temple in 1340, in the following year his father, Emperor Godaigo died and he studied under Myoso Sokan and Sesson Yubai.
父後醍醐天皇がなくなった翌年の1340年に建仁寺で出家し、明窓宗鑑・雪村友梅などに師事した。