It was originally the principle image of Anzen-ji temple (once located near present-day Kinpu-jinja Shrine) once called Oku no in (inner sanctuary) of Mt. Yoshino, and was moved to Kinpusen-ji Temple when Anzen-ji temple was defunct with the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism.
元は吉野山の奥の院と呼ばれた安禅寺（現・金峯神社付近にあった）の本尊で、同寺が明治の神仏分離で破却されてから金峯山寺に移された。