According to legend, Chugen-ji Temple is said to have been founded by the Buddhist sculptor Jocho (unknown - 1057) in the middle Heian period and originally located to the northeast of Shijo-bashi Bridge.
言い伝えによれば、この寺は平安時代中期の仏師定朝（?～1057年）が開山となって開かれたとも伝えられ、当初は四条橋の東北にあったとされる。