Japanese era name

The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the Japanese era name (年号, nengō^?, lit. year name) and the year number within the era. For example, the year 2011 is Heisei 23. As elsewhere in East Asia, the use of nengō, also known as "gengō" (元号^?), was originally derived from Chinese Imperial practice, although the Japanese system is independent of the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese era-naming systems. Unlike some of these other similar systems, Japanese era names are still in use. Government offices usually require era names and years for official papers.

The four era names used since the end of the Edo period in 1868 can be abbreviated by taking the first letter of their romanized names. For example, S55 means Shōwa 55 (i.e. 1980 AD), and H22 stands for Heisei 22 (2010 AD). At 64 years, Shōwa is the longest era to date.

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Historical nengō 1.2 Nengō in modern Japan 2 Non-nengō periods 3 Unofficial nengō system 3.1 Kyūshū nengō 4 Imperial year 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links

Overview

The system on which the Japanese nengō are based originated in China in 140 BC, and was adopted by Japan in AD 645, during the reign of Emperor Kōtoku.

The first nengō to be assigned was "Taika" (大化^?), celebrating the political and organizational changes which were to flow from the great Taika reform (大化の改新^?). Although the regular practice of proclaiming successive nengō was interrupted in the late seventh century, it was permanently re-adopted in 701 during the reign of Emperor Mommu (697–707). Since then, era names have been used continuously up through the present day.^[1]

Historical nengō

Prior to the Meiji period, era names were decided by court officials and were subjected to frequent change. A new nengō was usually proclaimed within a year or two after the ascension of a new emperor. A new nengō was also often designated on the first, fifth and 58th years of the sexagenary cycle, because they were inauspicious years in Onmyōdō. These three years are respectively known as kakurei, kakuun, and kakumei, and collectively known as sankaku. Era names were also changed due to other felicitous events or natural disasters.

In historical practice, the first day of a nengō (元年, gannen^?) starts whenever the emperor chooses; and the first year continues until the next lunar new year, which is understood to be the start of the nengō's second year.^[2]

Era names indicate the various reasons for their adoption. For instance, the nengō Wadō (和銅^?), during the Nara period was declared due to the discovery of copper deposits in Chichibu. Most nengō are composed of two kanji, except for a short time during the Nara period when four-kanji names were sometimes adopted to follow the Chinese trend. Tenpyō Kanpō (天平感宝^?), Tenpyō Shōhō (天平勝宝^?), Tenpyō Hōji (天平宝字^?) and Tenpyō Jingo (天平神護^?) are some famous nengō names that use four characters. Since the Heian period, Confucian thoughts and ideas have been reflected in era names, such as Daidō (大同^?), Kōnin (弘仁^?) and Tenchō (天長^?). Although there currently exist a total of 247 Japanese era names, only 72 kanji have been used in composing them. Out of these 72 kanji, 30 of them have been used only once, while the rest have been used repeatedly in different combinations.

Nengō in modern Japan

Mutsuhito assumed the throne in 1867, during the third year of the Keiō (慶応^?) era. On October 23, 1868, the era name was changed to "Meiji" (明治^?), and a "one reign, one era name" (一世一元, issei-ichigen^?) system was adopted, wherein era names would change only upon imperial succession. This system is similar to the now-defunct Chinese system used since the days of the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese nengō system differs from Chinese practice, in that in the Chinese system the era name was not updated until the year following the emperor's death.

In modern practice, the first year of a nengō (元年, gannen^?) starts immediately upon the emperor's ascension to the throne and ends on December 31. Subsequent years follow the Gregorian calendar.

For example, the Meiji era lasted until July 30, 1912, when the emperor died and the Taishō (大正^?) era was proclaimed. 1912 is therefore known as both "Meiji 45" and "Taishō 1" (大正元年, Taishō gannen^?), although Meiji technically ended on July 30 with Mutsuhito's death.

This practice, implemented successfully since the days of Meiji but never formalized, became law in 1979 with the passage of the Era Name Law (元号法, gengō-hō^?). Thus, since 1868, there have only been four era names assigned: Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa and Heisei, each corresponding with the rule of only one emperor. Upon death, the emperor is thereafter referred to by the era of his reign. For example, Mutsuhito is posthumously known as "Emperor Meiji" (明治天皇, Meiji Tennō^?).

N.B.: It is protocol in Japan that the reigning emperor should be referred to as Tennō Heika (天皇陛下, "His Majesty the Emperor") or Kinjō Tennō (今上天皇, "current emperor"). To call the current emperor by the current era name, i.e. "Heisei", even in English, is a faux pas, as this is—and will be—his posthumous name. Use of the emperor's given name (i.e., "Akihito") is rare in Japanese.

Non-nengō periods

The nengō system that was introduced by Emperor Kōtoku was abandoned after his death; no nengō were designated between 654 and 686. The system was briefly reinstated by Emperor Temmu in 686, but was again abandoned upon his death approximately two months later. In 701, Emperor Mommu once again reinstated the nengō system, and it has continued uninterrupted through today.

Although use of the Gregorian calendar for historical dates has become increasingly common in Japan, the traditional Japanese system demands that dates be written in reference to nengō. The apparent problem introduced by the lack of nengō for the two periods above is resolved by referencing years of imperial reign. This is the same approach used when referencing periods that predate the introduction of the nengō system.

Although in modern Japan posthumous imperial names correspond with the eras of their reign, this is a relatively recent concept, introduced in practice during the Meiji period and instituted by law in 1979. Therefore, the posthumous names of the emperors and empresses who reigned prior to 1868 may not be taken as era names by themselves. For example, the year 572—the year in which Emperor Bidatsu assumed the Chrysanthemum Throne — is properly written as "敏達天皇元年" (Bidatsu-Tennō Gannen, lit. "the first year of Emperor Bidatsu"), and not "敏達元年" (Bidatsu Gannen, lit. "the first year of Bidatsu"), although it may be abbreviated as such.[1] By incorporating both proper era names and posthumous imperial names in this manner, it is possible to extend the nengō system to cover all dates from 660 through today.[2]

Unofficial nengō system

In addition to the official nengō system, in which the era names are selected by the imperial court, one also observes—primarily in the ancient documents and epigraphs of shrines and temples—unofficial era names called shinengō (私年号^?), also known as ginengō (偽年号^?) or inengō (異年号^?). Currently, there are over 40 confirmed shinengō, most of them dating from the middle ages. Shinengō used prior to the reestablishment of the nengō system in 701 are usually called itsunengō (逸年号^?). A list of shinengō and more information can be seen in the Japanese Wikipedia page ja:私年号.

Because official records of shinengō are lacking, the range of dates to which they apply is often unclear. For example, the well-known itsunengō Hakuhō (白鳳^?) is normally said to refer to AD 650–654; a poetic synonym for the Hakuchi era. However, alternate interpretations exist. For example, in the Nichūreki, Hakuhō refers to AD 661–683, and in some middle-age temple documents, Hakuhō refers to AD 672–685. Thus, shinengō may be used as an alternative way of dating periods for which there is no official era name.

Other well-known itsunengō and shinengō include Hōkō (法興^?) (AD 591–621+), Suzaku (朱雀^?) (686), Fukutoku (福徳^?) (1489–1492), Miroku (弥勒^?) (1506–1507 or 1507–1508) and Meiroku (命禄^?) (1540–1543).

The most recent shinengō is Seiro (征露^?) (1904–1905), named for the Russo-Japanese war.

Kyūshū nengō

Edo period scholar Tsurumine Shikenobu proposed that Kyūshū nengō (九州年号^?), said to have been used in ancient Kumaso, should also be considered a form of shinengō. This claim is not generally recognized by the academic community. Lists of the proposed Kyūshū nengō can be seen in the Japanese Wikipedia pages ja:鶴峯戊申 and ja:九州王朝説.

Imperial year

The imperial year (皇紀, kōki^?) is an epoch used before WW2. Kōki 1 is the year when legendary Emperor Jimmu founded Japan, 660 BC according to the Gregorian Calendar. This epoch system was adopted in 1872. In terms of nationalism, Kōki emphasizes the long history of Japan and the imperial family because it is a larger number than the Anno Domini year (AD).

Kōki 2600 (1940) was a special year. The 1940 Summer Olympics and Tokyo Expo were planned as anniversary events, but were canceled due to the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese aircraft Zero Fighter was named after this year.

After the Second World War, the United States occupied Japan, and stopped the use of Kōki by officials. Today, Kōki is rarely used, except in some judicial contexts.

See also

• Japanese calendar
• Jikkan Jūnishi—(Sexagenary cycle)
• Holocene calendar (Jōmon Era)

Notes

References

• Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [Jien, 1221], Gukanshō (The Future and the Past, a translation and study of the Gukanshō, an interpretative history of Japan written in 1219). Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-03460-0.
• Daijirin, 2nd edition.
• Daijisen, 1st edition.
• Kōjien, 5th edition.
• Titsingh, Isaac, ed. (1834). [Siyun-sai Rin-siyo/Hayashi Gahō, 1652], Nipon o daï itsi ran; ou, Annales des empereurs du japon. Paris: Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. (French)
• Varley, H. Paul , ed. (1980). [Kitabatake Chikafusa, 1359], Jinnō Shōtōki ("A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa" translated by H. Paul Varley). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-04940-4.
• 二中歴1 第一～第四（尊経閣善本影印集成） ISBN 4-8406-2314-7.
• 二中歴2 第五～第十（尊経閣善本影印集成） ISBN 4-8406-2315-5.
• 二中歴3 第十一～第十三（尊経閣善本影印集成） ISBN 4-8406-2316-3.
• 所功, (1977). 日本の年号　揺れ動く＜元号＞問題の原点. 雄山閣.
• 井上清, (1989). 元号制批判 やめよう元号を. 明石書店. ISBN 4-7503-0236-8.

External links

• Nengō converter

Japanese era names (Nengō) Asuka period (538–710) Taika 645–650  · Hakuchi 650–654  · Shuchō 686–686  · Taihō 701–704  · Keiun 704–708  · Wadō 708–715 Nara period (710–784) Reiki 715–717  · Yōrō 717–724  · Jinki 724–729  · Tenpyō 729–749  · Tenpyō-kanpō 749–749  · Tenpyō-shōhō 749–757  · Tenpyō-hōji 757–765  · Tenpyō-jingo 765–767  · Jingo-keiun 767–770  · Hōki 770–781  · Ten'ō 781–782  · Enryaku 782–806 Heian period (784–1185) Daidō 806–810  · Kōnin 810–824  · Tenchō 824–834  · Jōwa 834–848  · Kajō 848–851  · Ninju 851–854  · Saikō 854–857  · Ten'an 857–859  · Jōgan 859–877  · Gangyō 877–885  · Ninna 885–889  · Kanpyō 889–898  · Shōtai 898–901  · Engi 901–923  · Enchō 923–931  · Jōhei 931–938  · Tengyō 938–947  · Tenryaku 947–957  · Tentoku 957–961  · Ōwa 961–964  · Kōhō 964–968  · Anna 968–970  · Tenroku 970–973  · Ten'en 973–976  · Jōgen 976–978  · Tengen 978–983  · Eikan 983–985  · Kanna 985–987  · Eien 987–988  · Eiso 988–990  · Shōryaku 990–995  · Chōtoku 995–999  · Chōhō 999–1004  · Kankō 1004–1012  · Chōwa 1012–1017  · Kannin 1017–1021  · Jian 1021–1024  · Manju 1024–1028  · Chōgen 1028–1037  · Chōryaku 1037–1040  · Chōkyū 1040–1044  · Kantoku 1044–1046  · Eishō 1046–1053  · Tengi 1053–1058  · Kōhei 1058–1065  · Jiryaku 1065–1069  · Enkyū 1069–1074  · Jōhō 1074–1077  · Jōryaku 1077–1081  · Eihō 1081–1084  · Ōtoku 1084–1087  · Kanji 1087–1094  · Kahō 1094–1096  · Eichō 1096–1097  · Jōtoku 1097–1099  · Kōwa 1099–1104  · Chōji 1104–1106  · Kajō 1106–1108  · Tennin 1108–1110  · Ten'ei 1110–1113  · Eikyū 1113–1118  · Gen'ei 1118–1120  · Hōan 1120–1124  · Tenji 1124–1126  · Daiji 1126–1131  · Tenshō 1131–1132  · Chōshō 1132–1135  · Hōen 1135–1141  · Eiji 1141–1142  · Kōji 1142–1144  · Ten'yō 1144–1145  · Kyūan 1145–1151  · Ninpei 1151–1154  · Kyūju 1154–1156  · Hōgen 1156–1159  · Heiji 1159–1160  · Eiryaku 1160–1161  · Ōhō 1161–1163  · Chōkan 1163–1165  · Eiman 1165–1166  · Nin'an 1166–1169  · Kaō 1169–1171  · Jōan 1171–1175  · Angen 1175–1177  · Jishō 1177–1181  · Yōwa 1181–1182  · Juei 1182–1184  · Genryaku 1184–1185 Kamakura period (1185–1333) Bunji 1185–1190  · Kenkyū 1190–1199  · Shōji 1199–1201  · Kennin 1201–1204  · Genkyū 1204–1206  · Ken'ei 1206–1207  · Jōgen 1207–1211  · Kenryaku 1211–1213  · Kempo 1213–1219  · Jōkyū 1219–1222  · Jōō 1222–1224  · Gennin 1224–1225  · Karoku 1225–1227  · Antei 1227–1229  · Kangi 1229–1232  · Jōei 1232–1233  · Tenpuku 1233–1234  · Bunryaku 1234–1235  · Katei 1235–1238  · Ryakunin 1238–1239  · En'ō 1239–1240  · Ninji 1240–1243  · Kangen 1243–1247  · Hōji 1247–1249  · Kenchō 1249–1256  · Kōgen 1256–1257  · Shōka 1257–1259  · Shōgen 1259–1260  · Bun'ō 1260–1261  · Kōchō 1261–1264  · Bun'ei 1264–1275  · Kenji 1275–1278  · Kōan 1278–1288  · Shōō 1288–1293  · Einin 1293–1299  · Shōan 1299–1302  · Kengen 1302–1303  · Kagen 1303–1306  · Tokuji 1306–1308  · Enkyō 1308–1311  · Ōchō 1311–1312  · Shōwa 1312–1317  · Bunpō 1317–1319  · Gen'ō 1319–1321  · Genkō 1321–1324  · Shōchū 1324–1326  · Karyaku 1326–1329  · Gentoku 1329–1331  · Genkō 1331–1334♯  · Shōkyō 1332–1333₪ Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) (Northern Court) Kemmu 1334–1338  · Ryakuō 1338–1342  · Kōei 1342–1345  · Jōwa 1345–1350  · Kannō 1350–1352  · Bunna 1352–1356  · Enbun 1356–1361  · Kōan 1361–1362  · Jōji 1362–1368 Ōan 1368–1375  · Eiwa 1375–1379  · Kōryaku 1379–1381  · Eitoku 1381–1384  · Shitoku 1384–1387  · Kakei 1387–1389  · Kōō 1389–1390  · Meitoku 1390–1394‡ Nanboku-chō period (1336–1392) (Southern Court) Kemmu 1334–1336  · Engen 1336–1340  · Kōkoku 1340–1346  · Shōhei 1346–1370  · Kentoku 1370–1372  · Bunchū 1372–1375  · Tenju 1375–1381  · Kōwa 1381–1384  · Genchū 1384–1392‡ Muromachi period (1392–1573) Ōei 1394–1428  · Shōchō 1428–1429  · Eikyō 1429–1441  · Kakitsu 1441–1444  · Bun'an 1444–1449  · Hōtoku 1449–1452  · Kyōtoku 1452–1455  · Kōshō 1455–1457  · Chōroku 1457–1460  · Kanshō 1460–1466  · Bunshō 1466–1467  · Ōnin 1467–1469  · Bunmei 1469–1487  · Chōkyō 1487–1489  · Entoku 1489–1492  · Meiō 1492–1501  · Bunki 1501–1521  · Eishō 1504–1521  · Daiei 1521–1528  · Kyōroku 1528–1532  · Tenbun 1532–1555  · Kōji 1555–1558  · Eiroku 1558–1570  · Genki 1570–1573 Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1600) Tenshō 1573–1592  · Bunroku 1592–1596  · Keichō 1596–1615 Edo period (1600–1868) Genna 1615–1624  · Kan'ei 1624–1644  · Shōhō 1644–1648  · Keian 1648–1652  · Jōō 1652–1655  · Meireki 1655–1658  · Manji 1658–1661  · Kanbun 1661–1673  · Enpō 1673–1681  · Tenna 1681–1684  · Jōkyō 1684–1688  · Genroku 1688–1704  · Hōei 1704–1711  · Shōtoku 1711–1716  · Kyōhō 1716–1736  · Genbun 1736–1741  · Kanpō 1741–1744  · Enkyō 1744–1748  · Kan'en 1748–1751  · Hōreki 1751–1764  · Meiwa 1764–1772  · An'ei 1772–1781  · Tenmei 1781–1789  · Kansei 1789–1801  · Kyōwa 1801–1804  · Bunka 1804–1818  · Bunsei 1818–1830  · Tenpō 1830–1844  · Kōka 1844–1848  · Kaei 1848–1854  · Ansei 1854–1860  · Man'en 1860–1861  · Bunkyū 1861–1864  · Genji 1864–1865  · Keiō 1865–1868 Modern Japan (1868 – present) Meiji 1868–1912 · Taishō 1912–1926  · Shōwa 1926–1989  · Heisei 1989 – present ♯The Northern pretenders did not recognize the Genkō era. Gentoku continued to be used in the Northern Court until 1332. ₪The Shōkyō era was recognized only by the Northern pretenders, not by the Southern Court. ‡ Upon reunification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392, Genchū was discontinued. Meitoku was used until 1394.

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