Editing Samurai (section)

===Nanboku-chō and Muromachi period===
In 1336, [[Ashikaga Takauji]], who opposed [[Emperor Godaigo]], established the [[Ashikaga shogunate]] with [[Emperor Kōgon]]. As a result, the southern court, descended from Emperor Godaigo, and the northern court, descended from Emperor Kogon, were established side by side. This period of coexistence of the two dynasties is called the [[Nanboku-chō period]], which corresponds to the beginning of the [[Muromachi period]]. The Northern Court, supported by the Ashikaga shogunate, had six emperors, and in 1392 the Imperial Court was reunited by absorbing the Southern Court, although the modern [[Imperial Household Agency]] considers the Southern Court to be the legitimate emperor.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230414234502/https://www.kunaicho.go.jp/ryobo/successive_list.html 天皇陵.] Imperial Household Agency</ref> The {{lang|la|de facto}} rule of Japan by the Ashikaga shogunate lasted until the [[Onin War]], which broke out in 1467.

From 1346 to 1358 during the Nanboku-cho period, the Ashikaga shogunate gradually expanded the authority of the {{nihongo3||守護|[[Shugo]]}}, the local military and police officials established by the Kamakura shogunate, giving the ''Shugo'' jurisdiction over land disputes between {{nihongo3||御家人|[[gokenin]]}} and allowing the ''Shugo'' to receive half of all taxes from the areas they controlled. The ''Shugo'' shared their newfound wealth with the local samurai, creating a hierarchical relationship between the ''Shugo'' and the samurai, and the first early {{nihongo3|feudal lords|大名|[[daimyo]]}}, called {{nihongo3||守護大名|shugo daimyo}}, appeared.<ref name="shugosen">{{cite web|url=https://www.touken-world.jp/history/history-important-word/shugodaimyo-sengokubusho/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317181933/https://www.touken-world.jp/history/history-important-word/shugodaimyo-sengokubusho/|script-title=ja:守護大名と戦国武将|language=ja|publisher=The Japanese Sword Museum Nagoya Touken World|date=|archive-date=17 March 2024|access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>

[[File:大太刀, 銘 正(家), Ōdachi forged by Masaie.jpg|thumb|{{transliteration|ja|[[Ōdachi]]}} forged by Sadaie, 14th century, [[Nanboku-chō period]], [[Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai#Shinsa (grading examination)|Important Sword]]]]

During the Nanboku-chō period, many lower-class foot soldiers called {{transliteration|ja|[[ashigaru]]}} began to participate in battles, and the popularity of {{transliteration|ja|haramaki}} increased. During the Nanboku-chō and Muromachi periods, {{transliteration|ja|dō-maru}} and {{transliteration|ja|haramaki}} became the norm, and senior samurai also began to wear {{transliteration|ja|haramaki}} by adding {{transliteration|ja|kabuto}} (helmet), {{transliteration|ja|[[men-yoroi]]}} (face armor), and gauntlet.<ref name="nanmuro">[https://web.archive.org/web/20220406070240/https://www.touken-world.jp/tips/51939/ 甲冑の歴史（南北朝時代～室町時代）] Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum Nagoya Touken World.</ref>

Issues of inheritance caused family strife as [[primogeniture]] became common, in contrast to the division of succession designated by law before the 14th century. Invasions of neighboring samurai territories became common to avoid infighting, and bickering among samurai was a constant problem for the Kamakura and Ashikaga shogunates.