While he determined the own systems of sect and rules for temples which replaced the Honmatsu seido (the system of head and branch temples) in the Edo period, and sought to strengthen control of the religious community of the Shin Sect headed by the Hongan-ji Temple, he made his aides and young priests study abroad and developed a new religious community policy which could oppose the Western civilization.
江戸時代の本末制度に代わる教団独自の宗制・寺法などを定め、本願寺を頂点とする真宗教団の引き締めを行う一方、いち早く側近や有望な若手僧侶らを海外留学させて、西洋文明に対抗しうる宗教教団のありかたを切り開いた。