It is said that a priest Koen (a master to Honen) of the Kodoku-in Temple in Mt. Hiei compiled the book during the reign of Emperor Horikawa after 1094, though there are differing views about it.
寛治8年（1094年）以降の堀河天皇代に比叡山功徳院の僧皇円（こうえん。法然の師）が編纂したとされるが、異説もある。