It is said that the statue of Yakushi Nyorai (the Healing Buddha) made by Unkei, a sculptor of Buddhist statues, to the order of Motohira who intended to make it the honzon (a principal object of worship at a temple) of Motsu-ji Temple was so marvelous that the Emperor Toba attempted to arrogate it to make it the honzon of the temple he had built.
毛越寺の本尊とするために薬師如来像を仏師・雲慶に発注したところあまりにも見事なものだったため、鳥羽天皇が横取りして自分が建立した寺院の本尊に使用せんとしたほどだったという。