And then, during the time of the second Shogun, Yoshiakira ASHIKAGA, a power struggle within the bakufu prompted several influential shugo daimyo, including Kiyouji HOSOKAWA, to defect to the Southern Court, while in Kyushu Tadafuyu ASHIKAGA raised arms against the bakufu and the Imperial Prince Kaneyoshi, Godaigo's son and heir, received an official missive, in which he was called the 'King of Japan,' from the Ming court of China; these and other events served to boost the Southern Court's power and prestige, which allowed the Southern Court to continue its resistance until the third Shogun, Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, unified the Northern and Southern Courts (in 1392).
そして、2代将軍足利義詮の時代には幕府内部の権力抗争により細川清氏などの有力守護大名が南朝に降ったり、九州では足利直冬が幕府に反抗したり、後醍醐の皇子である懐良親王が中国の明朝より「日本国王」として冊封を受けて南朝勢力を拡大するなど、南北朝の抗争は3代将軍足利義満が南北朝合体を行うまで続く。