As the temple of 'Daibutsu-san' (Mr Big Buddha), the temple has attracted many religious people since ancient times up to the present day and this had a great effect on Japanese culture; it was placed as 'So-Kokubunji,' the head temple of the Kokubun-ji Temples that Emperor Shomu ordered to be built in 60 Provinces of Japan at that time.
「大仏さん」の寺として、古代から現代に至るまで広い信仰を集め、日本の文化に多大な影響を与えてきた寺院であり、聖武天皇が当時の日本の60余か国に建立させた国分寺の本山にあたる「総国分寺」と位置づけられた。