At the time of its founding, the temple was dedicated to the bodhisattva Maitreya but became dedicated to Bhaisajyaguru around the time of the relocation of the capital to Heiankyo and became a place of devotion to Bhaisajyaguru and Prince Shotoku.
創建当初は弥勒菩薩を本尊としていたが、平安遷都前後からは薬師如来を本尊とする寺院となり、薬師信仰とともに聖徳太子信仰の聖地となった。