First he assumed the post of head priest of Kyogyo-ji Temple in Nara; however, he became hoshi (a successor to an abbacy) to the 17th Hoshu Shinnyo (Higashi Hongan-ji Temple) who was the nephew to his grandfather, and when Shinnyo died in 1744, he succeeded the post of the 18th Hoshu.
はじめは奈良・教行寺の住職に就いたが、のちに祖父・一如の甥である第17代法主・真如(東本願寺)の法嗣（法主後継者）となり、1744年（延享元年）、真如が逝去し、第18代法主を継承した。