The Imperial seats during the Nanboku-chō period were in relatively close proximity, but geographically distinct. They were conventionally identified as:
During the
Meiji period, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of
Emperor Go-Daigo through
Emperor Go-Murakami, whose Southern Court (南朝, nanchō) had been established in exile in
Yoshino, near Nara.[3]
Until the end of the
Edo period, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the
Ashikaga shogunate had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the
Imperial Regalia were not in their possession.[3]
1387, also called Kakei gannen (嘉慶元年): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Shitoku 4.
In this time frame,
Genchū (1384–1393) was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.[4]