This division primarily arose out of a political dispute between , known posthumously as , and his faction of priests centered at the and the leadership at , the head of Mount Kōya and the authority in teaching esoteric practices in general. Kakuban, who was originally ordained at in Kyōto, studied at several temple-centers including the Tendai complex at before going to Mount Kōya. Through his connections he managed to gain the favor of high-ranking nobles in Kyoto, which helped him to be appointed abbot of Mount Kōya. The leadership at Kongōbuji, however, opposed the appointment on the premise that Kakuban had not originally been ordained on Mount Kōya.