Emperor Kazan (968-1008, the 65th emperor) was tricked into taking the tonsure at age 19 in 986 by the political maneuvering of Fujiwara no Kaneie and Michikane (the Kanna Incident). He spent the following 30 years as a cloistered emperor in retreat and ascetic practice, during which he made the pilgrimage to the 33 Kannon sanctuaries of Saigoku — earning him the title "patriarchal restorer of the Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage." He spent his later years at this temple, dying at age 41 in 1008. The "Kazan-in Goryo" mausoleum in the precincts is transmitted as his grave. As a spiritual homeland of both the Saigoku and Shin-Saigoku pilgrimages, the temple gathers deep devotion to the cloistered emperor.