On December 28, 1897, it was designated a national treasure under the Ancient Temples and Shrines Protection Law as 'One Statue of Kanzeon Bosatsu Kanshitsu Ritsuzo (one dry lacquered standing statue of Kanzeon Bosatsu) (according to a legend, the work of someone of an ancient Korean kingdom [Paekche or Kudara])' (equivalent to an 'important cultural property' under the Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties).
明治30年（1897年）12月28日、「観世音菩薩乾漆立像（伝百済人作）1躯」として、古社寺保護法に基づく国宝（文化財保護法における「重要文化財」に相当）に指定。