They are based on notes taken by FUJIWARA no Sanekane, a shinshi (person who has passed the examination for entrance to the civil service) and a kurodo (chamberlain) (and the father of a kokui no saisho (Buddhist priest who has great political influence) named Shinzei), during talks with his teacher, the Sochi no Chunagon (vice-councilor of state and director of Dazaifu, local government office in Kyushu region) OE no Masafusa (1041 - 1111).
帥中納言大江匡房（1041－1111）の談話を、進士蔵人藤原実兼(蔵人)（黒衣の宰相といわれた信西の父）が筆記したもの。