In 1336, when Ashikaga Takauji took the capital and set up Emperor Komyo, Emperor Go-Daigo secretly escaped and fled to Yoshino in Yamato, where he established his court. So began the age of the Northern and Southern Courts, with two courts side by side, the Northern in Kyoto and the Southern in Yoshino.
Yoshino is deep in the mountains and famous for its cherry blossoms. The emperor made Yoshimizu-in, near Kinpusenji, his temporary palace. But Kusunoki Masashige and Nitta Yoshisada had both died in battle, and the generals he relied on passed away one after another.
In the eighth month of 1339, the emperor fell ill. As he grew worse, he abdicated in favor of his son Prince Noriyoshi and gave his last testament to the retainers gathered at his pillow:
"Though my life ends, the one thought that will cling to me through life after life is to destroy every enemy of the court and bring great peace to the realm. After I am gone, set the Seventh Prince (Noriyoshi) on the throne; let wise and loyal men plan together, reward the loyal service of Yoshisada and Yoshisuke, and raise up their descendants. If you go against this, the ruler is no true successor, and the retainers no loyal retainers.
"Though my remains be buried beneath the moss of the southern mountains (Yoshino), my soul will always gaze toward the sky of the capital in the north."
So saying, holding the fifth scroll of the Lotus Sutra in his left hand and gripping his sword in his right, at the hour of the ox on the sixteenth of the eighth month, he at last passed away. He was fifty-two.
His tomb, Tonoo-no-misasagi, is on the hill behind Nyoirinji, and unlike other imperial tombs, which face south, it was built facing north, toward the capital.