Kaei

History of Japan

Shōsōin

Glossary

Kaei (嘉永?) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō,?, lit. "year name") after Kōka and before Ansei. This period spanned the years from February 1848 through November 1854.[1] The reigning emperor was Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇?).

Contents

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Change of era

The era name is derived from an aphorism in The Book of the Song Dynasty: "A wise Emperor receives much help, One who esteems comfort is on the outside" (思皇享多祐、嘉楽永無央).

Events of the Kaei Era

"Immediately, on signing and exchanging copies of the treaty, Commodore Perry presented the first commissioner, Prince Hayashi, with an American flag stating that this gift was the highest expression of national courtesy and friendship he could offer. The prince was deeply moved, and expressed his gratitude with evident feeling. The commodore next presented the other commissioners with gifts he had especially reserved for them. All business now having been concluded to the satisfaction of both delegations, the Japanese commissioners invited Perry and his officers to enjoy a feast and entertainment especially prepared for the celebration." -- from American eyewitness account of the event[7]

Gallery

Notes

  1. ^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kaei" Japan Encyclopedia, p. 444 at Google Books; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File.
  2. ^ a b Satow, Ernest Mason. (1905). Japan 1853-1864, Or, Genji Yume Monogatari, p. 11.
  3. ^ Ranald MacDonald, The Narrative of His Life, 1824-1894
  4. ^ Whitney, Willis Norton. (1885). "Notes on the history of medical progress in Japan", Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, pp. 839-843.
  5. ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869, p. 323.
  6. ^ Sewall, John. (1905). The Logbook of the Captain's Clerk: Adventures in the China Seas, p. lxiv; Cullen, Louis. (2003). A History of Japan, 1582-1941: Internal and External Worlds, p. 178 n11.
  7. ^ Sewall, p. lxxiii; Hawks, Francis. (1856). Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan Performed in the Years 1852, 1853 and 1854 under the Command of Commodore M.C. Perry, United States Navy, Vol. I, pp. 377-380.
  8. ^ Ponsonby-Fane, p. 323; Satow, pp. 9-10.
  9. ^ Hammer, Joshua. (2006). Yokohama Burning: the Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II, p.65.

References

External links

Kaei 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
Gregorian 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854

Preceded by:
Kōka

Era or nengō:
Kaei

Succeeded by:
Ansei