In the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (Japan), small and medium samurai warrior band in provinces asked not only the new head of the government, the Genji-descent Ashikaga clan, but also the territorial lord as provincial constable, which had increased its influence after the order allowing military governors or Shugo to collect half of the taxes from manors and demesnes as military fund was issued, and influential samurai families on the side of the Southern Court or the Northern Court for recognition and gurantee of the ownership of their lands.
南北朝時代(日本)になると、各国の中小武士団は新たな源氏の棟梁、足利氏のほか、半済令以後勢力を蓄えた守護大名、南朝、北朝方の有力武家らに所領安堵を求めた。