In February 1490, Higashiyama-dono villa was transformed into a temple as a memorial to the death of Yoshimasa in the same year, became a branch temple of the Shokoku-ji Temple and was called Jisho-ji Temple.
1490年（延徳2年）2月、同年に死去した義政の菩提を弔うため東山殿を寺に改め、相国寺の末寺として創始されたのが慈照寺である。