It is one of the basic sacred sutras of the Jodo (Pure Land) sect in Japan and, together with "Bussetsu Muryoju Kyo" (the Sutra of the Buddha of Immeasurable Life) and "Bussetsu Amida Kyo Sutra" (The Sutra of Amida Buddha), they are generally called the "Jodo Sanbu-kyo" (the three main sutras of the Pure Land sect).
日本の浄土教の根本聖典の一つで、『仏説無量寿経』（康僧鎧訳）、『仏説阿弥陀経』（鳩摩羅什訳）とともに「浄土三部経」と総称される。