Katsuoji Temple on Mount Ouchou

The temple's origins are said to date back to 727 CE, when a brother of Fujiwara no Tsutomofu established a thatched hut. The direct founding is considered to have occurred in 765 CE, when Kaisho completed the transcription of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra and built a new hall. From the Heian period onward, it flourished as a center of mountain worship. After performing prayers for the recovery of Emperor Seiga's illness, it was granted the temple name 'Shouoji,' but the name was modestly changed to 'Katsuoji' out of humility. The temple burned down during the Battle of Ichinotani but was rebuilt by order of Minamoto no Yoritomo. Later, Ashikaga Yoshimichi designated it as a prayer temple for the shogun's family.