ABSTRACT
The times were troublous. During the 13th century the country had been, on the whole, quiet and well administered under the Kamakura camp government. But in the early 14th century this regime began to weaken. The real difficulties were economic, with available lands too limited to satisfy the ambitions of vassal lords who desired wealth and power. But in the court trouble had arisen over the succession to the throne. The reigning Emperor, Go-Daigo, was the center of the intrigues, and the court divided into factions for and against him. Kamakura sent an army and a general to overawe the court; but near Kyoto this general, Ashikaga Takauji, suddenly turned against his Kamakura overlords, and shortly the whole country was in upheaval. The barons took sides in the court fight, but their real hope was that they might obtain the lands of their rivals if they won. Eventually the Kamakura government was overthrown, and the rebellious general, Takauji, emerged victorious, while the Emperor Go-Daigo was forced from Kyoto. Another imperial prince was set up as Emperor in the old city while Go-Daigo, who had never abdicated, established his court at
Yoshino, famous for its cherry trees. For the next fifty years there existed two imperial courts in Japan, each with its adherents among the court nobles and the provincial barons.
