Based on 'No mater who the person may be, to the extent my order is effective, I will apply shakubuku to him if he is to be chastened or I will apply shoju if he is to be saved, the reason for which is to spread widely throughout the world the teaching of the truth (Shobo [the true teachings of Buddha])' written in 'Shomanngyo' (Srimala Sutra), the two methods, namely the application of shakubuku to the bad and that of shoju to the good are considered to be the major principles of Buddhism.
「勝鬘経（しょうまんぎょう）」の「我得力時。於彼処見此衆生。応折伏者而折伏之。応摂受者而摂受之。何以故。以折伏摂受故令法久住」を出典とし、悪人を折伏し善人を摂受することで、この二門は仏道の大綱であるとされる。