In principle, 'Shozan' should have been designated by the decree of Seii Taishogun (great general who subdues the barbarians) of the Muromachi shogunate government as in the case of 'Gozan', but as the upper limit was not set for the designation, commands from Emperor Daijo of the Northern Court or even qualifications by the Southern Court, which was the enemy of the bakufu, were confirmed so that 'Shozan' was given to a lot of 'Zenrin.'
原則的には五山と同様に室町幕府の征夷大将軍御教書によって指定されることになっていたが、特に上限を設けなかったために多くの禅林に諸山の称号が与えられ、北朝_(日本)太上天皇の院宣や果ては敵である南朝_(日本)による諸山称号が追認されたものまであったと言われている。