He was born as the second child of Michihiro KONO (who became a priest called Nyobutsu) of a local ruling family in Iyo Province (approximately present Ehime Prefecture) in 1239.
延応元年（1239年）伊予国（ほぼ現在の愛媛県）の豪族、河野通広（出家して如仏）の第2子として生まれる。