The Imperial seats during theNanboku-chō period were in relatively close proximity, but geographically distinct. They were conventionally identified as:
During theMeiji period, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants ofEmperor Go-Daigo through Emperor Go-Murakami, whose Southern Court (南朝,nanchō) had been established in exile inYoshino, near Nara.[3]
Until the end of theEdo period, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by theAshikaga shogunate had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that theImperial Regalia were not in their possession.[3]
1350, also calledKannō gannen (観応元年): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced inJōwa 6.
In this time frame,Shōhei (1346–1370) was the Southern Court equivalentnengō.
1350 (Kannō 1): Tadayoshi, excluded from administration, turns priest;[5] Tadayoshi's adopted son,Ashikaga Tadafuyu is wrongly repudiated as a rebel.[6]
1351 (Kannō 2): Tadayoshi joins Southern Court, southern army takes Kyoto; truce, Takauji returns to Kyoto; Tadayoshi and Takauji reconciled; Kō no Moronao andKō no Moroyasu are exiled.[5]
1350–1352 (Kannō 2–3): Armed conflict, variously known as theKannō disturbance orKannō incident (観応擾乱,Kannō Jōran) orKannō no juran, developed from antagonism between ShōgunAshikaga Takauji and his brother,Ashikaga Tadayoshi. Disagreement about the influence ofKō no Moronao diminished after death of Moronao. Tadayoshi was ordered to relocate to Kamakura. The brothers eventually reconciled before Tadayoshi's death in 1352.[7]