He changed his Homyo (a name given to a person who enters the Buddhist priesthood) from 'Nokan,' which he used soon after he became a priest at Ninna-ji Temple, to Jogyo (also referred as Teigyo) after practicing asceticism further, keeping himself away from the world of everyday affairs by climbing Mt. Koya to confine himself for religious training.
仁和寺に入って法名を「能寛」と名乗り、更に修行を重ねた後、法名を貞暁と改め、高野山に登ってより一層俗界から遠ざかった。