At a young age he entered into priesthood as Kojin's disciple; he later served the Tendai-zasu (the head priest of the Tendai sect) Jigen sojo who the Emperor Godaigo confided in, and was appointed hoin (the highest rank in the hierarchy of Buddhist priests).
幼いときに出家して公尋の弟子となり、後に後醍醐天皇の信任の厚かった天台座主慈厳僧正に仕え、法印に任じられた。