Accordingly, the temple had a role as a branch temple of Kofuku-ji Temple Daijo-in from the beginning, and it also gradually gained a character of jingo-ji (a temple attached to a shrine) as the Honji Suijaku theory (that emphasizes the Shinto gods are manifestations of the heavenly buddhas and bodhisattvas) became popular.
このため、当初より興福寺大乗院の末寺としての性格を備え、また本地垂迹説の流行と共に石上神宮の神宮寺としての性格を備えるようにもなった。