The Qing dynasty commentator Bi Yuan (畢沅; 1730–1797), who published the 1789 Shiming shuzheng (釋名疏證; "Exegetical evidence for Shiming") critical edition, believed that the work was begun by Liu Zhen and completed by Liu Xi who added his preface. Another Qing scholar Qian Daxin (錢大昕; 1728–1804) concurred that Liu Xi was the author based upon studies of his students' biographies. Based on internal evidence, Bodman concludes, "It is not impossible that Liu Zhen did compose such a work and that Liu Xi might have used some of its material in his work, but the chance of this having happened is very small."
A Qing dynasty commentator, Bi Yuan, thought that the work began with Liu Zhen and ended with Liu Xi, who added a preface. Another scholar, Qian Daxin, agreed that Liu Xi was the author based on his students' biographies. However, Bodman concludes that it is improbable that Liu Zhen created the original work.