He was to carry on from his father at Chotoku-ji Temple and was given the Buddhist name Shukakusoen but, preferring the tea ceremony, he left Chotoku-ji Temple and took his mother's last name Yamada.
父より長徳寺を受け継ぎ周覚宗円と号したが、茶道を好み長徳寺を辞して母方の姓の山田を名乗った。