As a Zen temple related to both the Ashikaga Shogun family and Emperor Godaigo, the temple is built on a magnificent scale and held in high esteem, and is ranked number one among the Kyoto Gozan (Five major temples of Rinzai sect in Kyoto).
足利将軍家と後醍醐天皇ゆかりの禅寺として壮大な規模と高い格式を誇り、京都五山の第一位とされてきた。