The body of Kokin Wakashu consists of 20 volumes and has been organized into the classifications including Spring (2 volumes), Summer and Autumn (2 volumes), Winter, Congratulations, Partings, Travel, Acrostics, Love (5 volumes), Laments, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Forms and Traditional Poems.
20巻からなる本文は春（上下巻）・夏・秋（上下巻）・冬・賀・離別・羇旅・物名・恋（1～5巻）・哀傷・雑・雑体・大歌所御歌に分類されている。