The oldest of these was the Bunmeibon, which fact indicates that setsuyoshu had been formed during the term from 1444, which was the estimated year of establishment of "Kagaku-shu," to 1474, which was the year of establishment of the Bunmeibon.
文明本が最古であり、『下学集』が成立したらしき1444年から文明本の年記1474年までの間に、節用集は成立した。