It was under Dochu of the Kanto region that he first entered the Buddhist priesthood and took the name Hokyo but went on to study under Saicho of Mt. Hiei in the year 798 and change his name to Encho.
始め関東の道忠（どうちゅう）の下で出家し法鏡行者と称したが、798年（延暦17年）比叡山に上って最澄に師事し、円澄と名を改めた。