Kyo Yuu, was a historical figure that was supposedly a hermit living during the Zhou Dynasties. During the reign of the first Zhou emperor, he was made a proposal. The emperor asked him if he would accept the role of being the next emperor( why, I don't know). Kyo Yuu refused the proposal right on the spot. Watching the spectacle was one of The Three Great Sennin, Genshitenson. G-san valued his character alot and made him his desciple, later known as Shinkouhyou.

To clear some things up:

* In the novel version of Houshin Engi, Shinkouhyou was Genshitenson's desciple, unlike the manga where as he was rumored to be Taijouroukun's.

* Not exactly part of the story, but still of some intrest. If this story was true, then it would prove that Shinkouhyou was, at one point of his life, human. I've been planted with the idea(courtesy of Shi-chan) that Shinkouhyou might have been youkai. Don't get me wrong, but I firmly believe in that theory, so whatever Shink was before doesn't matter now since he is a sennin.