Shinran mentioned that "My master Genku (Honen) appeared by Chie ko (the power of Amida Nyorai), started Jodo Shinshu and stated Senjaku Hongan" in "Koso Wasan" written during his life, which shows he thought that Jodo Shinshu consisted of the teachings of Jodo Shinshu started by Honen and carried on by himself.
なお、親鸞は生前に著した『高僧和讃』において、法然について「智慧光のちからより、本師源空（法然）あらはれて、浄土真宗ひらきつゝ、選択本願のべたまふ」と述べて、浄土真宗は法然が開いて自らが継承した浄土宗の教えと解した。