Yoritsuna UTSUNOMIYA was a low-ranking vassal in the service of the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) who resided at Utsunomiya-jo Castle in the Kanto region but after becoming involved in a political dispute with the Hojo clan and falling under suspicion of plotting a rebellion, he entered the Buddhist priesthood on the recommendation of Naozane KUMAGAI (also known as Kumagai Rensei Hoshi), who himself was led to became a follower of Buddhism by Honen, and secluded himself in Kyoto.
宇都宮頼綱は関東・宇都宮城にあって鎌倉幕府に仕える御家人であったが、北条氏との政権抗争に巻き込まれ、謀反の嫌疑をかけられたのを機に折から熊谷直実（熊谷蓮生法師）の勧めで入信していた法然の元で出家し、京に隠遁した人物である。