A series of works starting with "Koshoku ichidai otoko" (Life of an amorous man, published in 1682) by Saikaku IHARA are called Ukiyo Zoshi today, as works which made a clear departure from then existing Kana Zoshi (stories written in kana), which were then called "Kusa Zoshi" (illustrated story books), the distinction between "Kana Zoshi" and "Ukiyo Zoshi" was not made until later.
井原西鶴の『好色一代男』（1682年刊行）以降の一連の作品を、それまでの仮名草子とは一線を画するものとして、今日では浮世草子と呼ぶ（当時は「草双紙」と呼ばれ、「仮名草子」・「浮世草子」はのちになって区別されたもの）。