In the pre-medieval period, the manajo (a preface written in Chinese) of the "Kokin Wakashu" (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems) described him as 'Kakinomoto no taifu', indicating that he was ranked as in the fifth grade or higher, and its kanajo (a preface written in kana) describes him as 'oki mitsu no kurai', showing that he was Shosanmi (Senior Third Rank).
古くは『古今和歌集』の真名序に五位以上を示す「柿本大夫」、仮名序に正三位である「おほきみつのくらゐ」と書かれていた。