His first reference on historical material concerned his involvement in working with Unkei and other sculptors, on the statue of Kongo Rikishi (Nio) at Nandaimon gate of To-ji Temple during 1197 and 1198, but the statue does not existent any more.
建久8-9年（1197-1198年）、東寺南大門の金剛力士（仁王）像（現存せず）の造立に運慶らとともに携わったのが、史料上の初見である。