On her return from the Sankan campaign (the legendary Korean Peninsula expedition), Empress Jingū enshrined the three Sumiyoshi deities here in prayer for protection of navigation, marking the origin of Sumiyoshi Taisha. Shrine tradition places the founding in 211 CE, in the 11th year of her regency. The empress herself is also enshrined as the principal deity of the fourth main hall. The shrine served as the divine core for ancient overseas relations and prayers for safe navigation, and the embassies to Sui, Tang, and Silla all conducted prayers for safe passage at Sumiyoshi Taisha.

The three Sumiyoshi deities (Sokotsutsu-no-Onomikoto, Nakatsutsu-no-Onomikoto, Uwatsutsu-no-Onomikoto) are sea gods recorded in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, born when Izanagi performed purification rites after returning from the underworld. As deities governing maritime traffic and navigation, they were considered essential since antiquity and positioned as indispensable guardians of the Yamato court's diplomacy and trade. Many waka in the Man'yoshu invoke the three Sumiyoshi deities, and the scenery of Sumiyoshi-no-ura figures frequently in classical court literature.