Unlike other eminent monks, there are no analects left by Kanzan, no portraits painted during his lifetime and the only example of his writing is the inka (master's certification of a disciple's completion of training) that he presented to his disciple Juo Sohitsu.
関山には他の高僧のような「語録」はなく、生前に描かれた肖像もなく、遺筆も弟子の授翁宗弼（じゅおうそうひつ）に書き与えた印可状（師匠の法を受け継いだ証明書）のほかほとんど残されていない。