Later, he asked the Tang imperial court close to a hundred times (the first time was on August 7, 840) for permission to return to Japan but was denied and, during this time, his dear apprentice, Yuigyo, with whom he had spent the five years since entering China, passed away ("Koki,"July 25, 843 entry.
しばらくして、唐朝に帰国を百余度も願い出るが拒否される（会昌元年8月7日が最初）が、その間入唐以来5年間余りを共に過して来た愛弟子・惟暁を失う（『行記』843年（会昌3年)7月25日条。