Land to the east of Hongan-ji Temple was donated by Kyonyo, son of the 11th head priest Kennyo and when Hongan-ji temple was divided into east and west in 1602, Kyonyo named the temple that he founded Shinshu Honbyo, resulting in Hongan-ji Temple becoming commonly known as Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.
11代顕如の子教如が徳川家康によって本願寺の東に寺領を与えられ、1602年に本願寺が東西に分かれた際、教如が開いた寺を真宗本廟と呼んだため、それまでの本願寺は西本願寺と通称されるようになった。