He became a disciple of Enjin, who was a child of MINAMOTO no Sukenori in Kannon-in of Ninna-ji Temple, and became a priest there, whereupon he received kanjo (a ceremony to be the successor) by priest-Imperial Prince Shoshin in 1047.
仁和寺観音院の延尋（源扶義の子）の元に入門して出家、永承3年（1047年）に同院で性信入道親王から灌頂を受ける。