The temple is extremely important to the history of Buddhism in Japan with deep historical connections to Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple in Nanto (the southern capital (Nara)) and known to have been resided at by the eminent monk Gedatsubo Jokei.
歴史的に南都（奈良）の東大寺や興福寺などと関係が深く、解脱房貞慶（げだつぼうじょうけい）などの著名な僧が当寺に住したことで知られ、日本仏教史上重要な寺院である。