The temple was built during the Eikyu era (1113 - 1118) by Yorizane, the second chief priest of Kofuku-ji Temple Daijo-in, by imperial order of Emperor Toba, and afterward, the third chief priest Jinban took over the project to reorganize the buildings of the temple.
永久(元号)年間（1113年-1118年）に鳥羽天皇の勅願により興福寺大乗院第2世頼実が創建し、第3世尋範に引き継がれて堂宇の整備が進められた。