"Hannya Shingyo" is generally said to be the essence or a representation of the 600 volumes of "Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra (Daihannyaharamitta-kyo Sutra)," but it consists of the abstract from "the Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra" ("Dai-Hannya-kyo Sutra") and "Maka Hannya Haramitsu-kyo Sutra"("Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra") with the addition of a litany (Sktdhāranī), which is included in "Darani Jikkyo Sutra" at the end.
『般若心経』は一般には600巻に及ぶ『大般若波羅蜜多経』のエッセンス等といわれているが、『大般若波羅蜜多経』（『大般若経』）及び『摩訶般若波羅蜜経』（『大品般若経』）からの抜粋に『陀羅尼集経』に収録されている陀羅尼（Sktdhāranī）を末尾に付け加えたものである。