Zuikei Shuho (瑞渓周鳳)
Zuikei Shuho (January 2, 1392 – June 3, 1473) was a Buddhist priest of the Rinzai sect in the mid-Muromachi Period. Zuikei Shuho was from Izumi Province with his secular surname being that of the Otomo clan. The real name of Zuikei Shuho was Shuho. His surname was Zuikei. He was also referred to as Gaunsanjin. The posthumous name of Zuikei Shuho was 興宗明教禅師.
At age 10, Zuikei Shuho lost his father who was killed during the Oei War. In 1406, Zuikei Shuho became a pupil of Mukyushushin at Shokoku-ji Temple in Kyoto entering the priesthood. In 1440, Zuikei Shuho assumed the post of the chief priest of Sokoku-ji Temple and, subsequently in 1446, was made the Inju (the chief of the temple) of Shokoku-ji Temple Rokuon-in whereby being appointed as Soroku (the highest-ranking priest of the Gozan, the leader of the Zen sect). He was given important posts by the sixth shogun Yoshinori ASHIKAGA and the eighth shogun Yoshimasa ASHIKAGA and, by using his talent in writing, was assigned to develop diplomatic correspondence for the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun). Zuikei Shuho compiled a book on diplomatic history "Zenrin Kokuhoki," criticizing the diplomatic style practiced by Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA with Ming in which Yoshimitsu sent gifts to Ming. He also wrote a journal entitled "Gaunnikken-roku."