The priests of Five Mountain, such as Myoha SHUNOKU and Shushin GIDO, were familiar with Chinese culture and played roles as diplomatic counselors when Yoshimitsu carried out trade between the Ming Dynasty and Japan (licensed trade).
春屋妙葩や義堂周信らの五山僧は中国文化に通じ、また義満が日明貿易(勘合貿易)を行う際には外交顧問的役割も果たした。