It's a miracle that the original hall survived to this day.
Yamana Sōzen (山名宗全), leader of the Western Camp in the Ōnin War (応仁文明の乱 1467-77), protected the temple (his grandfather was buried here).
It was one of only a few buildings in Kyōto to survive the conflict.
The hall may have survived the 10 year civil conflict, but inside many of the pillars are scarred with sword marks (still visible).
It shows how violent fighting was in the Ōnin War. There were running battles not only through the temple grounds, but through its actual buildings!
You can also see bullet marks from the running battles that haunted Kyoto in the run up to the Boshin War and the Meiji Restoration.
When you consider how violent this fighting was, it is a surprise that the building is still standing.
Maybe Okame is protecting the hall still.
