足利尊氏が邸跡に建武三年（1336）創建し、諸山第一位の列に定めました。尊氏没後、父の菩提を弔うため鎌倉公方足利基氏によって七堂伽藍を備えた堂宇が建立されました。尊氏の法名を京都では等持院殿、関東においては長寿院殿と称します。 開山は古先印元（こせんいんげん）禅師。正面本堂に足利尊氏坐像と古先印元禅師像が祀られています。 右奥の観音堂は奈良の古刹忍辱山円成寺の多宝塔を大正時代に移築、改造したものです。境内奥に尊氏の遺髪を埋葬したお墓があります。

Ashikaga Takauji founded the temple at the site of his residence in 1336 and recognized it as the first-rank Shozan temple. After the death of Takauji,Ashikaga Motouji, governor of Kamakura,built the main hall furnished with a Shichido Garan temple structure to pray for the repose of his father Takauji.The posthumous name of Takauji is Toji Inden in Kyoto and Chojujiden in Kanto Area. The founding priest was Priest Kosen Ingen.The front main hall enshrines the seated statue of Takauji Ashikaga and that of Priest Kosen Ingen. Kannondo Hall at the back right,orininally located at Kosatsu NinniKusen Enjoji Temple,was moved and converted into the current design from the temple's two-story pagoda during the Taisho period. At the back of the temple grounds is a grave where the hair of deceased Takauji was buried.