Sanyo is also famous as a composer of Chinese poem titled "Fushikian kizan o utsu no zu ni daisu" ('題不識庵撃機山図') beginning with a phrase "bensei shukushuku yoru kawa o wataru", which described the Battle of Kawanakajima and is also popular as a number for shigin (Japanese art of reciting or chanting poems) and kenbu (sword dance).
なお山陽は詩吟・剣舞でも馴染み深い「鞭声粛粛夜河を過る～」で始まる川中島の戦いを描いた漢詩『題不識庵撃機山図』の作者としても有名。