It is thought to have been compiled based on "Shui sho" selected by FUJIWARA no Kinto, considering the similarity with the name (the issue of which one was the earlier was controversial for a long time, but in modern days the theory that "Shui sho" was the earlier has been established).
藤原公任の撰という『拾遺抄』との命名の相似性を考え、それをベースに編まれたと思われる（両者の先後関係については、古来論争が続いて来たが、近代になって拾遺抄から拾遺集へとの説が固着した）。