Northern and Southern Courts

The Northern and Southern Courts refer to two rival Japanese imperial courts that existed during a period of political conflict, mainly in the 14th to 15th centuries. The Southern Court was based in Yoshino and supported the legitimate emperor, while the Northern Court was established in Kyoto by the Ashikaga shogunate and was considered illegitimate by some. This division created a civil war-like situation, with competing claims to authority and legitimacy. The conflict eventually resolved in favor of the Northern Court in 1392, leading to a unified, stable government, but the division remains a significant historical chapter illustrating Japan’s complex period of political fragmentation.