When he was appointed as the head priest of Tendai Sect in 1038, believers of Ennin were furiously offended and petitioned directly to kanpaku (a chief advisor to the Emperor) FUJIWARA no Yorimichi in the following year, 1039.
1038年（長暦2年）天台座主に任じられると、円仁の門徒がそれに激しく反対し、翌1039年（長暦3年）関白藤原頼通に強訴した。