The Nanboku-chō Period (1336-1392) was a significant era in Japanese history characterized by a power struggle between two rival imperial courts. This period began when the Ashikaga shogunate challenged the legitimacy of the Yoshino Court, leading to a division between the Northern Court in Kyoto and the Southern Court in Yoshino. During this time, Japan experienced political instability and civil war, known as the Nanboku-chō Wars. The conflict ended when the two courts were unified under the Ashikaga shogunate, marking the beginning of the Muromachi Period. This era also saw developments in art, culture, and the samurai class's influence.