In this story, the Choja is Buddha, the burning house was Sangai (three realms) full of earthly desires, the children were all Shujo in the Sangai, Sansha of Yosha, Rokusha and Gosha were the three divisions of the teachings of Buddha for Shomon (vehicle of the hearers), Engaku (solitary-Buddha vehicle) and Bosatsu (enlightenment-bound vehicle) (Sanjo [the Three Vehicles carrying sentient beings to the world of enlightenment]).
この物語の長者は仏で、火宅は苦しみの多い三界、子供たちは三界にいる一切の衆生、羊車・鹿車・牛車の三車とは声聞・縁覚・菩薩（三乗）のために説いた方便の教えである。