These sects included the Nichiren sect, which taught that people could find salvation by reciting the nenbutsu (Buddhist invocation) 'Nam Myoho Renge-kyo'; the Jodo sect, which taught that people could find salvation by reciting 'Namu Amidabutsu' continuously (Invocation of the Buddha's Name); the Jodo Shinshu sect (the Ikko sect), which taught Akuninshoki, a teaching that 'if good people, that is, pure people without any Bonno, or earthly desires, can be reborn in the Pure Land, how much more so for evil people, that is, people with Bonno'; the Yuzu Nenbutsu sect, which recommended reciting the nenbutsu while dancing; and the Ji sect.
これらの中には、「南無妙法蓮華経」と唱えることで救われるとする日蓮宗、「南無阿弥陀仏」と念仏を唱え続ける（称名念仏）事で救われるとする浄土宗、浄土宗からさらに踏み込んで「善人なをもて往生を遂ぐ、いはんや悪人をや（善人→煩悩のない無垢な者でさえ往生できるのだから、悪人→我々のような煩悩を具足のように身にまとった者が往生できるのはいうまでもないことだ）」という悪人正機の教えを説いた浄土真宗（一向宗）、踊りながら念仏を唱える融通念仏や時宗があった。