It is believed that, in the mid-Kanei era, the third shogun Iemitsu TOKUGAWA accepted a suggestion of the highest-ranking Buddhist priest, Tenkai, and selected Fudo-son in five directions so that they could surround Edo and assigned each Fudo-son to one of Goshiki in order to pray for peace and tranquility for the country.
寛永年間の中旬、三代将軍徳川家光が天海大僧正の具申をうけ江戸の鎮護と天下泰平を祈願して、江戸市中の周囲五つの方角の不動尊を選んで割り当てたとされる。