Soke SHONAN was the second chief priest of Myoshin-ji Temple Daitsu-in in Kyoto, and became such a high priest as to receive an imperial sanction for a purple canonical robe from the Imperial Court.
京都妙心寺に大通院があるが、湘南宗化はその妙心寺大通院の第二代住持であり、朝廷から紫衣の勅許を受けるほどの高僧となった。