Ishiyama-dera Temple has been featured in various literary works including "Kagero Nikki" (The Gossamer Years), "Sarashina Nikki" (The Sarashina Diary) and "Makura no soshi" (the Pillow Book) and there is a lore that Murasaki Shikibu, the author of "Genji Monogatari" (The Tale of Genji), conceived the story line during her visit to Ishiyama-dera Temple for a sanro (a retreat (to a temple or shrine) for prayer).
石山寺は『蜻蛉日記』『更級日記』『枕草子』などの文学作品にも登場し、『源氏物語』の作者紫式部は石山寺参篭の折に物語の着想を得たとする伝承がある。