at the beginning of the 12th century, large-scale temple construction was carried out by fujiwara no kiyohira, the founder of the northern fujiwara clan. the temple was built to placate souls of all who died in the former nine years war and the latter three years' war. kiyohira, who had been forced into bloody battles and lost his family in the war, resolved to bring peace to the region based on an ideal society following the teachings of buddha. per the "azuma kagami" (the official history of the kamakura shogunate) the temple contained more than 40 halls and pagodas, and over 300 monks' residences. kiyohira's son fujiwara no motohira continued this plan, and commissioned his own great temple, mōtsū-ji, nearby. mōtsū-ji was completed by his son, fujiwara no hidehira, who also commissioned muryōkō-in.