Nanboku-cho Period

In this episode of the HistoryMaps Podcast, we explore Japan's Nanboku-chō period (1336-1392), an age of dynastic rivalry and shifting power. Following the collapse of the Kenmu Restoration, rival Northern and Southern Imperial courts battled for legitimacy while the Ashikaga shogunate rose to dominance. We examine the turmoil of the Kannō disturbance, the growing influence of the shugo lords, and Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu's drive to centralize control and stabilize the realm. The episode concludes with the reunification of the Imperial line-though history still debates which court truly held rightful authority.