Kanshin-ji (観心寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Teramoto neighborhood of the city of Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, in the Kansai region of Japan.

Just over a century later, in 808, Kūkai visited this temple and initiated worship of the Big Dipper, building seven cairns corresponding to the seven main stars in that constellation, which still remain in the precincts to this day.

While there are innumerable folklore references to Kūkai visiting some location and carving a statue with his own hands, the image attributed to Kūkai at this temple is stylized as a work of the 9th century and is accompanied by four gold and bronze Buddha statues also dating to the same period, so the Nara period origins of the temple are not disputed.

[2] Kanshin-ji was also the bodaiji for the Kusunoki clan, and thus had strong connections to the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period.

According to folklore, Kusunoki Masashige had the building constructed to pray for the success of the Kenmu Restoration, but was defeated and killed at the Battle of Minatogawa before the structure was completed.

The statue is believed to have been carved in the Jōwa ra (834-848) under the patronage of the empress of Emperor Saga, Tachibana no Kachiko.