After he handed over his position of betto to Kakuken who supported him as gon no betto (acting chief) for a long time, monzeki (head post) of Ichijo-in Temple to his disciple Ryoen, and monzeki of Daijo-in Temple to another disciple Jitsuson, respectively, he resigned his post as Homu Daisojo in 1191, and the following year, in 1192, he lived in retirement in Shoryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Bodai where he started its restoration himself, and he came to be called 'bodaisan (Mt. Bodai) sojo (high-ranking Buddhist priest)' or 'bodaisan gobo (a respectful way to call someone in a high position in Buddhism).'
別当職を権別当として長く彼を補佐した覚憲に、一乗院門跡を弟子の良円に、大乗院門跡を同じく弟子の実尊に、それぞれ譲って後、1191年（建久2年）には法務大僧正を辞し、翌1192年（建久3年）には自ら再興事業に着手した菩提山正暦寺に隠遁し「菩提山僧正」あるいは「菩提山御房」と呼ばれた。