According to temple legend, Saihō-ji was constructed during the Nara period by Gyōki, on the location of one of Prince Shōtoku's former retreats.
ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə tˈɛmpəl lˈɛdʒənd, sˈeɪhoʊdʒˈaɪ wʌz kənstɹˈʌktᵻd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə nˈɑːɹɹə pˈiəɹɪəd baɪ dʒaɪˈoʊki, ɔnðə loʊkˈeɪʃən ʌv wˈʌn ʌv pɹˈɪns ʃˈɑːɾoʊkˌuːz fˈɔːɹmɚ ɹᵻtɹˈiːts.