Honen used the word "Shodomon"in "Senchaku hongan nenbutsu shu" (the holy writings of the Jodo Sect), as two kinds of shobo (Buddhism), 'Shodo' (the Holy Path) and 'Ojo Jodo' (Birth in the Pure Land) were preached in "Anrakushu" (a collection of passages concerning birth in the Pure Land) by Doshaku.
法然は、道綽の『安楽集』に「聖道」と「往生浄土」の2種の勝法が説かれたことを受け、『選択本願念仏集』にて用いられた言葉である。