View source for Daikakuji and Jimyoin lines

[[File:Gonijo.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The mausoleum of [[Emperor Go-Nijo|Emperor Go-Nijô]] (r. 1301-1308), of the Daikaku-ji line]]
*''Period: [[1297]]-[[1334]]''
*''Japanese'': 大覚寺統・持明院統 ''(Daikakuji tou & Jimyouin tou)''

For a period in the early 14th century, the Imperial succession alternated between two lines of descent, as a political compromise between two factions within the Imperial Court. This arrangement eventually led to a fracture between the two lines; from [[1334]] until [[1392]], a period known as the [[Nanbokucho Period|Nanboku-chô period]], the two lineages ruled concurrently, as [[Northern Court|Northern]] and [[Southern Court]], each claiming the other to be illegitimate and pretenders to the throne.

==Background==
The [[Kamakura shogunate]] established its ability to interfere in internal Court politics, and the imperial succession, with its victory over the forces of [[Emperor Go-Toba]] in the [[1221]] [[Jokyu Disturbance|Jôkyû Disturbance]]. 

Meanwhile, over the course of the 13th century, the Imperial succession came to be divided, or confused, with some emperors being descended from [[Emperor Go-Fukakusa]] (r. 1246-1259), and some emperors descended from Go-Fukakusa's younger brother, [[Emperor Kameyama]] (r. 1259-1274). Combined with the practice of emperors abdicating and retiring, a situation emerged in which multiple retired emperors were concurrently active in Court politics, multiple of whom had first sons with legitimate claims to the succession.

The descendants of Emperor Go-Fukakusa, including [[Emperor Fushimi]], came to be known as the Jimyô-in line, while the descendants of his brother Emperor Kameyama, including [[Emperor Go-Uda]] and, later, [[Emperor Go-Nijo|Emperor Go-Nijô]], came to be known as the Daikaku-ji line.

==Alternation of Succession==
In [[1297]], the disputes between the two lineages came to a head. Exercising its power to involve itself in Court politics, the shogunate demanded that Emperor Go-Uda (Daikaku-ji line) abdicate the throne in favor of his cousin Emperor Fushimi (Jimyô-in line), against the wishes of Retired Emperor Kameyama (Daikaku-ji line). A succession dispute ensued, with some elements at Court supporting Kameyama, and others his nephew Fushimi.

The shogunate attempted to resolve the situation by suggesting a compromise, in which the succession would alternate between the two lines. Backed by the shogunate, Emperor Fushimi won the immediate succession dispute, and managed to have his son succeed him as [[Emperor Go-Fushimi]] (r. 1298-1301) before the succession alternated back to the Daikaku-ji line, with Emperor Go-Nijô in [[1301]].

==Split==
[[Emperor Go-Daigo]] sought to put an end to this system, and to restore power to the Imperial Court, igniting a complex series of events<ref>See [[Genko War|Genkô War]], [[Kemmu Restoration]].</ref> which led to the collapse of the [[Kamakura shogunate]], the rise of the [[Ashikaga shogunate]], and the beginning of the Nanboku-chô period. His own Daikaku-ji line ruled as emperors of the Southern Court, from their base in [[Yoshino]], while the shogunate-backed Jimyô-in line continued to rule in Kyoto as the Northern Court. This state of affairs lasted until [[1392]], when the Southern Court was eliminated, and the Northern Court reinstated a singular emperor, and singular line of succession.

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==References==
*Amino Yoshihiko, Alan Christy (trans.), ''Rethinking Japanese History'', Center for Japanese Studies, University of Michigan (2012), 267n30.
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[[Category:Imperial Family]]
[[Category:Kamakura Period]]