When classifying the Koyasan Shingon sect according to the creed, it belongs to the Old Shingon sect (Old-interpretation school) of Old Shingon schools (Omuro school of Shingon Sect or Daikaku-ji school of Shingon sect etc.) which have ancient principles of Koyasan that preach the theory of Honjishin (dharma-body of Dainichi Nyorai (Mahavairocana), ant it makes the base of the sect.
教学（教義）から区分すれば、大日如来の本地説法身を説く高野山の教学（古義）を持つ古義真言宗諸派（真言宗御室派・真言宗大覚寺派など）の古義真言宗（古義派）に属して基幹をなす。