Yinyuan initially declined to travel to Japan due to his age, but finally decided to make the trip after frequent invitations and the desire to fulfill the dying wish of his disciple Yelan Xinggui who passed away without realizing his ambition.
隠元は高齢を理由に最初は渡日を辞退したが、日本側からたびたび招請があり、また、志半ばで亡くなった弟子・也嬾性圭の遺志を果たしたいとの思いもあり、ついに渡日を決意する。