In 1642, he began to learn neo-Confucianism (based on the teachings of Wang Yangming and his followers) as a pupil of Toju NAKAE, who resigned from Ozu Domain of Iyo Province and returned to his home Ogawa Village, Omi Province (the present Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture).
寛永19年（1642年）伊予国大洲藩を致仕し郷里の近江国小川村（現・滋賀県高島市）に帰郷していた中江藤樹の門下に入り陽明学を学ぶ。