Shoryo or shoro are also called sorei shoryo, but interpretations of them vary: some regard them as merely shorei spirits having descendants; others believe that spirits are rated or promoted from shoro to sorei, or finally to a god depending on the time after death or the way the descendant holds a memorial service; still others regard sorei as a general term for a shiryo remaining in Utsushiyo or a shorei that has departed to Tokoyo.
祖霊（それい）精霊のことでもあるが、精霊の内、あくまで子孫がいる者の霊を祖霊とする考えや、死後の時間経過や子孫の弔い（とむらい）のしかたにより、位付けされ、精霊から祖霊に果ては神に変わるとする考えや、現世に残った死霊と常夜へ旅立った精霊の総称を祖霊という考えがある。