It has been said that Dosan was born at Nishino oka, Otokuni District, Yamashiro Province in 1494, but there is an alternative view that he was born in 1504, and there are various views regarding his birthplace.
明応3年（1494年）に山城国乙訓郡西岡で生まれたとされてきたが、生年については永正元年（1504年）とする説があり、生誕地についても諸説ある。