It used to be said that the author was MINAMOTO no Mitsuyuki, but recently FUJIWARA no Takatada, the former Sadaijin (minister of the left), who retired and became a priest, is considered to be the most likely author.
作者は古くは源光行と言われていたが、近年では当時出家・引退していた元左大臣藤原隆忠説が有力視されている。