According to temple legend, it was established in the year 594 by Prince Shotoku to pray for the soul of his late father, Emperor Yomei and the first abbess is said to have been the prince's wet nurse, Tamateru-hime (Ezen-ni).
寺伝では推古天皇2年（594年）、聖徳太子が父用明天皇の菩提のため開創したとされ、太子の乳母玉照姫（恵善尼）が初代住職であるという。