Among the three shrines, Hongu is thought to be Saiho Gokuraku Jodo (The Western Pure Land), Shingu to be Toho Joruri Jodo (the Eastern Pure Land), and Nachi to be Nanpo Hodaraku Jodo (the Southern Pure Land) respectively, and the entire area of Kumano became to be regarded as a pure land in and after the Heian period.
三山はそれぞれ、本宮は西方極楽浄土、新宮は東方浄瑠璃浄土、那智は南方補陀落浄土の地であると考えられ、平安時代以降には熊野全体が浄土の地であるとみなされるようになった。