It was originally a satobo (small village temple) of Kudokuin Temple on Mt. Hiei, which was a residence of Koen Ajari, and was said to have been founded by Ennin early in the Heian period.
もとは皇円阿闍梨の住房比叡山功徳院の里坊で、平安時代前期に円仁が創建したものと伝えられる。