This temple is the oldest one in this town
that was founded by Gyokibosatsu obeying an
order of Monbu Emperor in 704. This is the main
temple of Hossou sect in Tokai district which
was built from Asuka era to Nara era. This
temple has a land of 4 kilometers around and
during this long history they have had 139 chief
priests, among whom there were a lot of high
priests.
The 16th chief priest, Jikaku high priest improved the temple and changed
the sect from Hosso sect to Tendai sect. This
once flourished temple has become a small
present one owing to the government policy of
expelling Buddhism and destroying temples as
well as statues of Buddha. But you can imagine
the ancient flourishing times through their
remains or ancient writings and so on.
