He was originally a chief priest of the Saiju-in Temple in Mt. Hiei, but he returned to secular life after the burning of Mt. Hiei by Nobunaga ODA and became a disciple of Dosan MANASE, then proceeded to master Chinese medicine.
元々比叡山菜樹院の住持であったが、織田信長による比叡山焼き討ちの後、還俗して曲直瀬道三に入門し、漢方医学を極める。