The temple's name was taken from a line in the 'Avatamsaka sutra' which states 'Hi, idete, mazu takaki yama wo terasu' which means 'When the sun rises, it first casts its light upon the highest mountain,' and is believed to have been chosen in the hope that the temple would be illuminated as described in the passage.
「日出先照高山」（日、出でて、まず高き山を照らす）とは、「華厳経」の中の句で、「朝日が昇って、真っ先に照らされるのは高い山の頂上だ」という意味であり、そのように光り輝く寺院であれとの意が込められていると思われる。