Saint Tokudo, the founder of the Hase-dera Temple in Yamato Province, met Enma Daio (King Yama, or the King of Hell) at the entrance to the other world when he died of disease at the age of sixty-two in 718; he received from Enma Daio an oracle telling him to build thirty-three holy places of Kannon and save people by having them make the pilgrimage, then received the kishomon (written oath) to Kannon and the thirty-three hoin (temple seals), and was sent back to the world to accomplish these tasks, for too many people had been sent to hell from bad karma.
718年（養老2年）大和国の長谷寺の開基である徳道上人が62歳のとき、病のために亡くなるが冥土の入口で閻魔大王に会い、生前の罪業によって地獄へ送られる者があまりにも多いことから、三十三箇所の観音霊場をつくり巡礼によって人々を救うように託宣を受けるとともに起請文と三十三の宝印を授かり現世に戻された。