It is said that unlike Heian Buddhism and Kamakura Buddhism which emphasized relief work for the common people, these six sects of Nanto Rokushu had an academic atmosphere as an important factor, they were groups of learned priests studying mainly the doctrines of Buddhism.
民衆の救済活動に重きをおいた平安仏教や鎌倉仏教とは異なり、これらの六宗は学派的要素が強く、仏教の教理の研究を中心に行っていた学僧衆の集まりであったといわれる。