At the beginning of the 12th century, large-scale temple construction was carried out by Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan. The temple was built to placate souls of all who died in the Former Nine Years War and the Latter Three Years' War. Kiyohira, who had been forced into bloody battles and lost his family in the war, resolved to bring peace to the region based on an ideal society following the teachings of Buddha.
During the early 12th century, Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the founder of the Northern Fujiwara clan, undertook a massive temple-building project to honor the memories of those who lost their lives in the devastating wars that ravaged the region. This initiative was driven by Kiyohira's own experiences of loss and trauma.