The construction of private temples was forbidden in Kyoto at the time, however, and so it was not until ten years later in 863, when formal Imperial approval as Jogaku-ji Temple was granted by Emperor Seiwa, that Zenrin-ji Temple became officially recognized.
当時の京都ではみだりに私寺を建立することは禁じられており、10年後の貞観(日本)5年（863年）、当時の清和天皇より定額寺としての勅許と「禅林寺」の寺号を賜わって公認の寺院となった。