He felt the absence of absolutes upon the death of his parents, entered the priesthood, went on pilgrimages to various parts of the country and obtained the Buddhist name, Zenkai, when he experienced tokudo (a rite to become a monk) in 1715.
両親が亡くなった事から世の無常を感じて出家し、諸国を行脚、正徳(日本)5年（1715年）に得度して禅海と称した。