It is one of the fundamental sacred scriptures of the Japanese Jodo (Pure Land) sect; together with Bussetsu Muryoju-kyo (the Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life) (translated by Koso) and "Bussetsu Kanmuryoju-kyo" (The Sutra of Contemplation on the Buddha of Immeasurable Life) (translated by Kyoryoyasha) they are collectively called 'The Jodo Sanbu-kyo' (the three main sutras of the Pure Land sect).
浄土教日本の根本聖典の一つで、『仏説無量寿経』（康僧鎧訳）、『観無量寿経』（畺良耶舎訳）とともに「浄土三部経」と総称される。