According to "Nihon Shoki," in the year 603, after Prince Shotoku asked his servants 'I have this sacred Buddhist statue, but who is here to worship it?' naturalized citizen HATA no Kawakatsu of a powerful local family received the statue and constructed 'Hoko-ji Temple.'
『書紀』によれば、推古天皇11年（603年）聖徳太子が「私のところに尊い仏像があるが、誰かこれを拝みたてまつる者はいるか」と諸臣に問うたところ、帰化人系の豪族秦河勝（はたのかわかつ）が、この仏像を譲り受け、「蜂岡寺」を建てたという。