The Tozan school was founded by Shobo Rigen Daishi (a Shingon priest who lived in the early Heian Period) who established Sanbo-in at Daigo-ji Temple, and the Honzan school came to be formed after Zoyo at Onjo-ji Temple built Shogoin Temple and enshrined the Sansho Gongen (three deities) of Kumano there.
当山派は醍醐寺三宝院を開いた聖宝理源大師に端を発し、本山派は園城寺の増誉が聖護院を建立して熊野三所権現を祭ってから一派として形成されていった。