In March 1390, under the order of the third shogun Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA to expel him and Ujiyuki YAMANA due to their dispute over the right to the succession to the Yamana clan, he was attacked by one of the family members, Ujikiyo YAMANA, and he escaped from Tajima Province and went to Bingo Province.
山名氏の惣領権を巡る争いから90年3月には山名氏幸とともに3代将軍の足利義満から討伐を受け、一族の山名氏清らに攻められ、但馬国から備後国へ逃れる。