Upon the wish of Emperor Shomu, the Rushana-butsu statue was started to build in 745, and a Kaigen kuyo-e ceremony (also called Tamashi ire ceremony [transferring soul ceremony]; an eye-opening ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue) was hold in 752.
聖武天皇の発願で天平17年（745年）に制作が開始され、天平勝宝4年（752年）に開眼供養会（かいげんくようえ、魂入れの儀式）が行われた。