在日本独特的历史和文化背景下，观音菩萨补陀落的信仰受佛教舍身思想和末法观的影响，集合了即身成佛论、修验道、他界观以及传统丧葬习俗等多种元素，在9～18世纪形成了被称为“日本宗教史之谜”的补陀落渡海。补陀落渡海是特殊的观音净土信仰，是东亚净土信仰的特殊形态，有助于我们了解平安时代以后佛教在日本的本土化情况。补陀落渡海也是一种复杂的宗教实践和民俗行为，是考察日本宗教与民俗文化的又一进路。
In Japan’s unique historical and cultural context，the Potalaka worship of Avalokiteśvara was influenced by the Buddhist bodily sacrifice and the idea of the last Dharma. It incorporated many elements such as the ideas of the attainment of Buddhahood in the present body，the thought of Shugendo，the view of the other world，and ancient burial rituals，between the 9th and 18th centuries forming the FudarakuTokai（crossing the sea to Potalaka） what is known as the “the mystery of Japanese religious history”.
The Fudaraku Tokai was an indigenous Pure Land cult of Avalokiteśvara，that provided a special form of Pure Land belief in East Asia and helped us to understand the localization of Buddhism in Japan after the Heian period.
The Fudaraku Tokai was also a complex religious practice and folkloric behavior，providing another way to study Japanese religion and folkloric culture.
