During the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (Japan), after Takauji ASHIKAGA left the Kenmu Government, Five Mountain was newly selected from temples in Kyoto mainly by Soseki MUSO, whom the Ashikaga Shogunate family trusted, because Takauji and his brother Tadayoshi ASHIKAGA trusted the Zen sect.
足利尊氏が建武政権から離れて南北朝時代(日本)となると、尊氏や弟の足利直義などは禅宗を信仰したため、五山も足利将軍家が帰依していた夢窓疎石が中心となって京都の寺院から新たに制定された。