Akio ABE announced the supposition that the chapters from 'Kiritsubo' to 'Hatsune' were composed as follows: first the chapters of 'Wakamurasaki,' 'Momijinoga,' 'Hananoen,' 'Aoi,' 'Sakaki,' 'Hanachirusato' and 'Suma' were written, and after 'Hahakigi,' 'Utsusemi,' 'Yugao,' 'Suetsumuhana' were written all the chapters subsequent to 'Suma' were written, and 'Kiritsubo' was written around the time that 'Otome' was completed.
阿部秋生は、「桐壺」巻から「初音」巻までについて、まず「若紫」・「紅葉賀」・「花宴」・「葵」・「賢木」・「花散里」・「須磨」の各巻が先に書かれ、その後「帚木」・「空蝉」・「夕顔」・「末摘花」が書かれた後に、「須磨」以後の巻が執筆され、「乙女」巻を書いた前後に「桐壺」巻が執筆されたとする説を発表した。