ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ, ˈæftɚ ɹˈiːdɪŋ ðə plˈætfɔːɹm sˈuːtɹə ʌvðə sˈɪksθ pˈeɪtɹɪˌɑːɹk, hiː lˈɛft hɪz wˈaɪf ænd tʃˈɪldɹən ænd ɪmˈiːdɪətli ɔːɹdˈeɪnd ˌʌndɚ mˈæstɚ hjˈuːɐnɪˌuː ʒˈɛŋtʃjuːə ʌv jˈuːwæŋ mˈɑːnɐstɚɹi ɪn tʃˈæŋʒuː.
In 1594, after reading the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, he left his wife and children and immediately ordained under master Huanyou Zhengchua of Yuwang Monastery in Changzhou.