Kashō

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Kashō (嘉祥?), also known as Kajō, was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō,?, lit. "year name") after Jōwa and before Ninju. This period spanned the years from 848 through 851. The reigning emperors were Ninmyō-tennō (仁明天皇?) and Montoku-tennō (文徳天皇?).[1]

Contents

[edit] Change of era

  • Kashō gannen (嘉祥元年?); 848: The new era name Kashō (meaning "good augury") was created because a white tortoise was discovered in Bungo province, and it was duly presented to the emperor. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Jōwa 15, on the 13th day of the 6th month of 848.[2]

[edit] Events of the Kashō era

  • Kashō 1, on the 10th of the 1st month (848): The dainagon Fujiwara Yoshifusa 904-872) was named udaijin. He was the son of the former sadaijin Fujiwara Fuyutsugu (775-826). Yoshifusa's daughter, Fujiwara no Akira-keiko, became Emperor Montoku's wife and the mother of Emperor Seiwa.[3]
  • Kashō 1, in the 6th month (848): A white tortoise was discovered in Bungo province. As this was an extraordinary thing, all the court officials made their appearances before the emperor with comments about the good augury this tortoise represented.[4]
  • Kashō 2, in the 4th month (849): An ambassador from Baekje was received at court.[4]
  • Kashō 2, in the 5th month (849): The ambassador from Baekje was received by the emperor, who entertained him. Emperor Tenmyō charged Ono no Takamura to prepare a letter which was to be presented at the Baekje court.[4]
  • Kashō 2, in the 10th month (849): Nimmyo celebrated his 40th birthday, and many presents were offered to him.[4]
  • Kashō 2, in the 11th month (849): The emperor toured the capital in a grand procession; and when he passed by the prison, he ordered Yoshifusa to give freedom to all the prisoners held there. Ninmyo caused rice and monies to be distributed amongst the poor.[4]
  • Kashō 3, on the 21st day of the 3rd month 850): Emperor Ninmyō died; and his eldest son received the succession (‘‘senso’’).[5] Shortly thereafter, Emperor Montoku formally acceded to the throne (‘‘sokui’’).[6]
  • Kashō 3, in the 1st month (850): The emperor made an official visit (chōkin) to the residence of his mother as a way of demonstrating filial piety.[7]
  • Kashō 3, on the 21st day of the 3rd month (850): The emperor fell ill and died at age 41. According to his wishes, he was entombed without pomp or ceremony. After this, the emperor was sometimes referred to as "the Emperor of Fukakasa," which was the name given to his mausoleum. Emperor Ninmyo had reigned 17 years -- 14 years in the Jōwa era, and 3 years in the Kashō era.[8]
  • Kashō 3, in the 5th mongh (850): The widow of Emperor Saga, who was also the mother of Emperor Ninmyō and the grandmother of Emperor Montoku, died. This very devout Buddhist had founded a temple called Danrin-ji (檀林寺?) on the site of present-day Tenryū-ji (天龍寺?) -- more formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji (天龍資聖禅寺?), located in what is now Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward in Kyoto, Before her death, the former empress had been known by the honorific title, Danrin-kōgō (檀林皇后 ?); and she had been honored as if she were a saint.[9]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 106-112; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp.283-284; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 164-165.
  2. ^ Brown, p. 284; Titsingh, p. 111.
  3. ^ Titsingh, p. 111; Brown, p. 284.
  4. ^ a b c d e Titisngh, p. 111.
  5. ^ Brown, p. 284.
  6. ^ Varley, p. 44. [A distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Go-Murakami.]
  7. ^ Titingh, p. 111; Varley, p. 165.
  8. ^ Titsingh, p. 112, Brown, p. 284.
  9. ^ Titsingh, p. 112.


[edit] External links


Kashō 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Gregorian 848 849 850 851

Preceded by:
Jōwa

Era or nengō:
Kashō

Succeeded by:
Ninju