Emperor Go-Daigo fled to Yoshino and established the Southern Court, while Ashikaga Takauji installed the Northern Court in Kyoto. This abnormal situation, with two imperial courts existing at the same time, continued for about 60 years.
Basic Knowledge
In 1336, Ashikaga Takauji installed Emperor Komyo of the Jimyoin Line in Kyoto and announced a new political policy, the Kenmu Code. This marked the beginning of the Muromachi Shogunate. Meanwhile, Emperor Go-Daigo fled with the imperial regalia to Yoshino (Nara Prefecture) and claimed to be the legitimate emperor. Thus began the Northern and Southern Courts turmoil:
Kyoto = Northern Court (Jimyoin Line, supported by Ashikaga Takauji)
Yoshino = Southern Court (Daikakuji Line, Emperor Go-Daigo)
In 1338, Ashikaga Takauji was appointed Sei-i Taishogun by the Northern Court, and the Muromachi Shogunate was established. Go-Daigo died in Yoshino in 1339, but the Southern Court continued under Emperor Gomurakami and others. Southern Court commanders, including Kusunoki Masatsura, Nitta Yoshisada, and Kitabatake Akiie, continued to resist in various regions.
The turmoil involved warrior groups throughout the country, and Southern and Northern Court forces fought one another in many places. In 1392, through the mediation of the third shogun, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the Southern Court united with the Northern Court, finally ending the turmoil.
1336 Ashikaga Takauji announces the Kenmu Code and installs Emperor Komyo
1336 Emperor Go-Daigo escapes to Yoshino = beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts
1338 Ashikaga Takauji becomes Sei-i Taishogun = Muromachi Shogunate established
1339 Emperor Go-Daigo dies in Yoshino
1392 Northern and Southern Courts unite (through Ashikaga Yoshimitsu)
Further Study (Background and Effects)
The main reason the turmoil lasted 60 years was the power struggle within the Muromachi Shogunate. During the Kanno Disturbance (1350-1352), Takauji, his younger brother Ashikaga Tadayoshi, and his steward Ko no Moronao fought a three-way struggle, creating such confusion that some even surrendered to the Southern Court.
In the regions, the authority of military governors expanded greatly. While Kamakura-period governors were responsible only for military and police affairs, in the Northern and Southern Courts period they strengthened their control as shugo lords through rights such as the Half-Tax Decree and shugo-uke. This became the prototype of the later Sengoku lords.
The war tale Taiheiki is a long narrative depicting the wars of this era and conveying the achievements and tragedies of many figures, including Kusunoki Masashige, Nitta Yoshisada, and Ashikaga Takauji.
- Southern Court = Yoshino and the Daikakuji Line
- Northern Court = Kyoto and the Jimyoin Line
- 1338 = Ashikaga Takauji becomes Sei-i Taishogun; Muromachi Shogunate established
- 1392 = Northern and Southern Courts unite through Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
- Kanno Disturbance (1350-1352) = internal conflict between Takauji and Tadayoshi
- Half-Tax Decree = military governors may collect half of the land tax as provisions
- Shugo lords = military governors who grew powerful and controlled domains during this period
- Taiheiki = long war tale depicting the Northern and Southern Courts period
Points to Note (Easily Confused)
① Remember the sets Southern Court = Daikakuji Line = Yoshino and Northern Court = Jimyoin Line = Kyoto.
② Emperor Go-Daigo was the first emperor of the Southern Court, but he failed as a politician. He is also evaluated as an idealist and innovator.
③ Distinguish 1338 (establishment of the Muromachi Shogunate and Takauji's appointment as Sei-i Taishogun) from 1336 (announcement of the Kenmu Code). Textbooks differ on the founding year of the Muromachi Shogunate.
④ The order was Ashikaga Takauji, Ashikaga Yoshiakira, and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. The unification of the Northern and Southern Courts was Yoshimitsu's achievement.
Practice
- Where was the Southern Court located?
- What was the name of the Muromachi Shogunate shogun who achieved the unification of the Northern and Southern Courts?
- What was the name of the decree that allowed military governors to collect half of the land tax during the Northern and Southern Courts period?