The retired Emperor Kogon ruled a cloister government through two generations under Emperor Komyo and Emperor Suko, however, when the Kanno Disturbance infighting occurred among the ASHIKAGA clan, and as the army of the Emperor Gomurakami recaptured Kyoto city in 1352, both retired Emperor Komyo and Emperor Suko were caught by the Southern Dynasty and taken away after being pursued and withdrew to Otokoyama in Yamashiro Province (Yawata City, Kyoto Province), and then further to Ano in Yamato (Gojo City, Nara Prefecture) where the Southern Dynasty's home base was.
光厳上皇は、光明天皇、崇光天皇の二代に渡って院政を行ったが、足利氏の内紛である観応の擾乱のおり、南朝の後村上天皇の軍が1352年京都を奪回した際に光明、崇光両上皇とともに南朝に捕らえられ、京都を追われ撤退する南朝軍によって山城国男山（京都府八幡市）、さらに南朝の当時の本拠であった大和賀名生（奈良県五條市）に連れ去られてしまう。