Kō no Moronao (高 師直, died 24 March 1351, also Moronō) was a Japanese samurai of the Nanboku-chō period who was the first to hold the position of Shitsuji (Shōgun's Deputy).

He fought for the Ashikaga against the loyalist forces of the Southern Court during the wars of the Nanboku-chō period and killed its generals Kitabatake Akiie and Kusunoki Masayuki.

[3] Because of this reputation, in the bunraku and kabuki play Kanadehon Chūshingura, which depicts the vendetta of the 47 rōnin, his name is used to represent Kira Yoshinaka.

[2] This enmity would be the main trigger of the Kannō Disturbance, an extremely divisive and damaging civil war between Takauji and Tadayoshi with very serious repercussions for the whole country.

Although he ultimately won, Takauji was initially defeated in March 1351 by Tadayoshi and a truce was agreed upon with the help of Zen master Musō Soseki, who was close to both sides.