He was born in Oaza zen, Kasukawa village, Seta district, Kozuke Province (present-day Kasukawa-cho, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture), and his secular surname was Sudo.
上野国勢多郡粕川村大字膳（現・群馬県前橋市粕川町）に誕生、俗姓は須藤。