The temple of Annoyō-ji was founded by
Gyōki, and converted from a
Hossō to a
Shingon temple by Kūkai. Rebuilt by the ruler of
Iyo Province in the eighth century, many of the temple buildings were destroyed by the
Chōsokabe in the sixteenth century. The
aetiology sees the temple's name changed to Ishite-ji or stone-hand temple after the tightly-clenched hand of the newborn son of the lord of
Iyo Province was opened by a priest from the Annoyō-ji to reveal a stone inscribed "
Emon Saburō is reborn".[1]