The 18 grand head temples of the main 16 schools were set up as the Grand Head Temple's association of Shingon sect schools (Kakuzankai) on June 15, 1958, in order to communicate with each other, cultivate mutual friendships and hold events in cooperation with one another.
そのうち主要な16派の18の総大本山が、昭和33年（1958年）6月15日に、真言宗各派総大本山会（各山会）を各山の連絡親睦・共通事業の主宰を目的に結成された。