But in 1861, he ran away, leaving behind shichigon zekku (a Chinese poem of four lines, each of seven characters) scripted on the wall of Kyoon-ji Temple that read 'Although I essentially value the purity of Japan, which is a divine land/I made an error and became a priest to preach Buddhism/Now I am going to abandon ascetic practices, but do not accuse me Buddha,/For I essentially value the purity of Japan, which is a divine land,' and lived in a thatched-roof hut in Komazuka, Tofuku-ji, Horyu-ji Village in Yamato Province and involved in activities as a loyal supporter of the Emperor.
だが、1861年に教恩寺の壁に七言絶句「本是神州清潔民　謬為仏奴説同塵　如今棄仏仏休咎　本是神州清潔民」を書き残して出奔、大和国法隆寺村東福寺の駒塚の茅屋に住み、勤王志士として活動した。