The mountainous Takao area in the northern part of Kyoto has long been associated with asceticism. Temples were established in the area as early as the eighth century, but fell into disuse by the twelfth century. Then in 1206 the former emperor Gotoba instructed the highly influential priest Myoe (1173–1232) to rebuild the temple. Its name, Kosanji, or “high-mountain temple,” was inspired by a passage in the Flower Garland Sutra, an important scripture for Kegon Buddhism. The temple is popularly pronounced “Kozanji,” but the official pronunciation is Kosanji.

Kosanji became known as a temple of learning due to Myoe’s dedication to Buddhist study and practice. He was also a lover of religious arts, and frequently invited distinguished artists and intellects to the temple. The rich milieu he cultivated lives on in many treasures passed down from the Heian period (794–1185), a time when art and literature flourished, and the Kamakura period (1185–1333), notable for the spread of new Buddhist thought in Japan. Many of the paintings, statues, and documents at the temple survived devastating fires in the sixteenth century and are still in excellent condition.

Myoe is also remembered for popularizing tea in Japan. He cultivated tea near Kosanji, and the temple still harvests tea from a small plot every year. Tea producers from around the country honor Myoe to this day in recognition of his key role in Japan’s tea tradition.