Tenmei

This article is about the Japanese era name. For the town formerly existed in Kumamoto Prefecture, see Tenmei, Kumamoto.

History of Japan
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Glossary

Tenmei (天明^?) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name), also known as Temmei, after An'ei and before Kansei. This period spanned the years from April 1781 through January 1789.^[1] The reigning emperor was Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇^?).^[2]

1 Change of era
2 Events of the Tenmei era
3 Notes
4 References
- 4.1 External links

Change of era

1781 Tenmei gannen (天明元年^?): The new era name of Tenmei (meaning "dawn") was created to mark the enthronement of Emperor Kōkaku. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in An'ei 11, on the 2nd day of the 4th month.

As is customary for choosing nengō, the name was selected from a passage in a historical Chinese text. In this case, the text was Classic of History (書経) (also quoted in The Great Learning (大學)). More specifically from the first of the King Tai Jia (大甲) chapters. It says: "先王顧諟天之明命..." meaning "The former king kept his eye continually on the bright requirements of Heaven, [and...]." This is continued with a description of reverence, virtue, and prosperity for the lands. From this, the two characters 天 and 明 were selected.

Events of the Tenmei era

1782 (Tenmei 2): Great Tenmei Famine is said to have begun.
1782 (Tenmei 2): An analysis of silver currency in China and Japan was presented to the emperor by Minamoto no Masatsuna.^[3]
1783 (Tenmei 3): Mount Asama (浅間山,, Asama-yama^?) erupted in Shinano province only 80 miles northwest of Edo—loss of life estimated at 20,000+. [Today, Asama-yama's location is better described as on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures]. Japanologist Isaac Titsingh's published account of the of Asama-yama eruption will become first of its kind in Europe and the West (1820).^[4] The volcano's devastation makes the Great Tenmei Famine even worse. Much of agriculture of Shinano and Kōzuke provinces would consequently remain unproductive or under-producing for the next four or five years.^[5]
1783 (Tenmei 3): Famine was exacerbated, according to 20th century studies, because after 8 years of near or actual famine, neither the authorities nor the people had any reserves left to meet further drought and crop failures of the "Great Tenmei Famine."^[6]
1784 (Tenmei 4): Country-wide celebrations in honor of Kōbō-Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism who died 950 years earlier.^[3]
1784 (Tenmei 4): The son of the Shogun's chief counselor was assassinated inside Edo Castle. The comparatively young wakadoshiyori (junior counselor), Tanuma Okitomo, was the son of the senior councilor Tanuma Okitsugu. The younger Tanuma was killed in front of his father as both were returning to their norimono after a meeting of the Counselors of State had broken up. The involvement of senior figures in the bakufu was suspected; however, none but the lone assassin himself was punished. The result was that Tanuma-initiated, liberalizing reforms within the bakufu and relaxing the strictures of sakoku were blocked.^[7]
September 17, 1786 (Tenmei 6, 25th day of the 8th month): Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu died and was buried in Edo.
1787 (Tenmei 7): Tokugawa Ienari becomes the 11th shogun of the bakufu government.^[8]
1787 (Tenmei 7): Kutsuki Masatsuna published Seiyō senpu (Notes on Western Coinage), with plates showing European and colonial currency.^[9]
1788 (Tenmei 7): Riots in rice shops in Edo and Osaka.
1788 (Tenmei 8): Great Fire of Kyoto. A fire in the city, which began at 3 o'clock in the morning of March 6 (Tenmei 8, 29th day of the 1st month), continued to burn uncontrolled until March 8 (Tenmei 8, 1st day of the 2nd month); and embers smoldered until they were extinguished by heavy rain on March 11 (Tenmei 8, 4th day of the 2nd month). The emperor and his court fled the fire, and the Imperial Palace was destroyed. No other re-construction was permitted until a new palace was completed. This fire was considered a major event. The Dutch VOC opperhoofd in Dejima noted in his official record book that "people are considering it to be a great and extraordinary heavenly portent."^[10]

Notes

^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Temmei" Japan Encyclopedia, p. 956 at Google Books; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File.
^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 420-421.
^ ^a ^b Titsingh, p. 420.
^ Screech, T. (2006), Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822, pp. 146-148.
^ Hall, John. (1955). Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan, p. 122.
^ Hall, p. 170.
^ Screech, pp. 148-151, 163-170, 248.
^ Hall, John Whitney et al. (1991). Early Modern Japan, p. 21.
^ Screech, T. (2000). Shogun's Painted Culture: Fear and Creativity in the Japanese States, 1760-1829, pp. 123, 125; See -- online image of 2 adjacent pages from library collection of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages
^ Screech, pp. 152-154, 249-250

References

Hall, John Whitney. (1988). Early Modern Japan (The Cambridge History of Japan, Vol. 4). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10-ISBN 0521223555/13-ISBN 9780521223553; OCLC 489633115
__________. (1955). Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. OCLC 445621
Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 10-ISBN 0-674-01753-6; 13-ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301
Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. London: RoutledgeCurzon. 10-ISBN 0203099850, 13-ISBN 9780203099858; OCLC 65177072
__________. (2000). Shogun's Painted Culture: Fear and Creativity in the Japanese States, 1760-1829. London : Reaktion. 10-ISBN 1861890648/13-ISBN 9781861890641; OCLC 42699671
Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691.

External links

National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
National Archives of Japan: Hinozenshu sanbutsu zuko, scroll showing illustrated inventory of industries in Karatsu Domain, Tenmei 4 (1784)
Toyohara Chikanobu, Mirror of the Ages (Jidai Kagami): Tenmei no koro.

Tenmei	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
Gregorian	1781	1782	1783	1784	1785	1786	1787	1788	1789

Preceded by:
An'ei

Era or nengō:
Tenmei

Succeeded by:
Kansei

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 (Northern Court) 1336–1392	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 (Southern Court) 1336–1392	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

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.