In 1181, when Shinran was 9, he was inducted into the Buddhist priesthood by Jien (who later became a chief abbot called Tendai Zasu) at a Buddhist monastery called Shoren-in, and given the Buddhist name Hannen.
治承5年（1181年）9歳、京都青蓮院（しょうれんいん）において、後の天台座主･慈円のもと得度し、「範宴（はんねん）」と称する。