Kurama-dera Temple became a temple of Shingon Sect from around the time when Priest Buen of To-ji Temple entered Kurama Temple during Kanpyo era (from 889 to 897) at the end of the 9th Century, but it changed to Tendai Sect in the 12th Century; since then it has been under the control of Shoren-in for a long time.
9世紀末の寛平年間（889年-897年）東寺の僧・峯延（ぶえん）が入寺したころから、鞍馬寺は真言宗寺院となるが、12世紀には天台宗に改宗し、以後の鞍馬寺は長く青蓮院の支配下にあった。