A phosphor composition that contains a phosphor host having as a main component a composition represented by a composition formula: MAlSiN.sub.3, where "M" is Sr or Sr in combination with at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Ba, and Zn, in which Sr is a main component. The phosphor composition is activated by replacing a part of the M in the phosphor host composition with Eu.sup.2+. This enables a light-emitting device emitting white light and satisfying both a high color rendering property and a high luminous flux to be provided.