Nanboku-chō refers to a historical period in Japan that lasted from 1336 to 1392. It is characterized by the division of the imperial court into two rival factions: the Northern Court and the Southern Court. This conflict arose after the fall of the Kamakura shogunate and was marked by a struggle for legitimacy and power over the Japanese throne. The term "Nanboku-chō" translates to "Northern and Southern Courts." The Northern Court was based in Kyoto, while the Southern Court was established in Yoshino. The period ended when the two courts were unified under the Ashikaga shogunate, leading to a more centralized governance in Japan.