Each form of inso has a doctrinal meaning that represents the details, nature and function of the spiritual awakening experienced by a Buddha; accordingly, ascertaining what form of inso is assumed by a Buddhist image allows, to some extent, the guessing of what Buddha is represented by the image.
それぞれの印相には諸仏の悟りの内容、性格、働きなどを表わす教義的な意味があり、仏像がどの印相を結んでいるかによって、その仏像が何であるか、ある程度推測がつく。