This temple is associated with the founder of the Fujiwara clan FUJIWARA no Kamatari and his son FUJIWARA no Fuhito, and it is the uji-dera temple (temple built in order to pray for the glory of a clan) of the Fujiwara clan.
藤原氏の祖・藤原鎌足とその子息・藤原不比等ゆかりの寺院で、藤原氏の氏寺である。