He joined Engyo-ji Temple on Mt. Shosha, a big temple at his birthplace, and started to study teachings of Tendai Sect when he was 11 years old, but later on, he became aware of the Zen sect and studied Zen teachings under Kennichi KOHO in Kamakura and Jomin NANPO (Daio Kokushi; 1235 - 1308) in Kyoto.
11歳の時、地元の大寺院である書写山円教寺に入り、天台宗を学ぶが、のち禅宗にめざめ、鎌倉の高峰顕日（こうほうけんにち）、京都の南浦紹明（なんぽじょうみん；大応国師。1235年-1308年）に参禅。