Tenmei

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

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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]

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, 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.
↑ 3.0 3.1 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 0-203-09985-0, 13-ISBN 978-0-203-09985-8; 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.

Preceded by An'ei	Era or nengō Tenmei 1781–1789	Succeeded by Kansei

v t e 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.

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