Although the school had been in decline by the early Muromachi period, Norizane UESUGI, who became the lord of Ashikaga in 1432, himself contributed to its restoration and revived it by inviting Kaigen, a monk of Engaku-ji Temple, Kamakura to the school as its shoshu (principal) and donating his collection of books.
室町時代の前期には衰退していたが、1432年（永享4年）、上杉憲実が足利の領主になって自ら再興に尽力し，鎌倉円覚寺の僧快元を庠主（しょうしゅと読み、校長のこと）に招いたり、蔵書を寄贈したりして学校を盛り上げた。