Battles & Campaigns · 1348
Battle of Shijōnawate
Shijōnawate, Kawachi Province (now Osaka Prefecture), Japan
What happened
The Northern Court army under Kō no Moronao and Kō no Moroyasu fought the Southern Court's young general Kusunoki Masatsura. Japan had two rival imperial courts at the time. Northern Court forces marched toward Yoshino, the Southern Court's temporary palace, and Masatsura led his much smaller army out to meet them while Kitabatake Chikafusa drew some attackers away. Masatsura died in the battle at the age of 22.
Why it matters
It was a Northern Court victory in the long war between the two courts. The Southern Court had to leave Yoshino.
What came next
The Southern Court fled Yoshino, leaving little for its enemies to capture.
Did you know?
Before he died, Masatsura wrote a poem on the door of Nyoirin-ji temple in Yoshino.
Timeline
- 1336Masatsura's father, Kusunoki Masashige, dies.
- 4 February 1348Battle of Shijōnawate.
- 1348The Southern Court leaves Yoshino.