There is a common opinion saying that since Zesan, the first monshu of Manshuin, was from the Sugawara clan, he was appointed as the betto of Kitano-jinja Shrine, which holds Michizane SUGAWARA as enshrined god, when it was constructed (in 947).
通説では、曼殊院初代門主の是算が菅原氏の出身であったことから、菅原道真を祭神とする神社である北野神社の創建（天暦元年・947年）に際し別当に任命されたという。