Changes

==Reign Years==

==Reign Years==

Before the year-period system was well-established, years were dated from the reigns of emperors. For example, the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'' has dates like "in the 5th year and the 11th month of the reign of the Emperor Hatsuse-be ([[Emperor Sujun|Sujun]])." I have not made a study of it, but for at least some of the ''Nihon Shoki'' dates, it seems that the "first year" of a reign is counted from the year <u>after</u> the death of the previous emperor.  As there may be differences among historians about what is meant by the "first year" of a reign, if a date is important to you, check it out.

Before the year-period system was well-established, years were dated from the reigns of emperors. For example, the ''[[Nihon Shoki]]'' has dates like "in the 5th year and the 11th month of the reign of the Emperor Hatsuse-be ([[Emperor Sujun|Sujun]])." <ref> Ryusaku Tsunoda, et. al., comp., ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', Columbia University Press, 1958, 1:43 </ref> I have not made a study of it, but for at least some of the ''Nihon Shoki'' dates, it seems that the "first year" of a reign is counted from the year <u>after</u> the death of the previous emperor.  As there may be differences among historians about what is meant by the "first year" of a reign, if a date is important to you, check it out.

==Era (''Nengô'' 年号) System==

==Era (''Nengô'' 年号) System==

In the year-period system, which is still the official year-dating system in Japan, the imperial court determines that the era name (''nengô'' 年号) shall be changed to XX,  a two-character name using Chinese (on) readings  such as Tai-ka  大化 or Hei-sei 平成. (From 749-770 four-character names were used.) The beginnings of eras are given in reference books; there is also a list in the article on [[Japanese Eras]]. This change in name can occur at any time of year.  

In the year-period system, which is still the official year-dating system in Japan, the imperial court determines that the era name (''nengô'' 年号) shall be changed to XX,  a two-character name using Chinese (on) readings  such as Tai-ka  大化 or Hei-sei 平成. (From 749-770 four-character names were used.) The beginnings of eras are given in reference books; there is also a list in the article on [[Japanese Eras]]. This change in name can occur at any time of year.  

In China, the first year period, Jian-yuan (Kengen) 建元, started in 140 A.D.  In Japan, the first was Taika 大化 in 645 A.D., and the first period change was occasioned in 650 by the court's receiving the gift of a white pheasant:  the period name was changed to Hakuchi 白雉. After this, there were several decades when the names were not settled and the reign-year system was also used, but since 701 (Taihô), the eras have been reasonably established.  

In China, the first year period, Jian-yuan (Kengen) 建元, started in 140 A.D.  In Japan, the first was Taika 大化 in 645 A.D., and the first period change was occasioned in 650 by the court's receiving the gift of a white pheasant:  the period name was changed to Hakuchi 白雉. <ref> Ryusaku Tsunoda, et. al., comp., ''Sources of Japanese Tradition'', Columbia University Press, 1958, 1:69, 76. </ref> After this, there were several decades when the names were not settled and the reign-year system was also used, but since 701 (Taihô), the eras have been reasonably established.  

In the period from 1336-1392 there were two rival courts. Since the court determines the year periods, there were two sets of era names during this time.  In 1910 it was officially decided that, the "southern" court had been the legitimate court during the period, so the "southern" era names are the official ones given in lists. However, as the "northern" era names  were the ones actually used in most of the country, they are normally given somewhere in the lists, often marked as "northern dynasty."  

In the period from 1336-1392 there were two rival courts. Since the court determines the year periods, there were two sets of era names during this time.  In 1910 it was officially decided that, the "southern" court had been the legitimate court during the period,<ref> Ivan Morris, ''The Nobility of Failure'', p. 387. </ref> so the "southern" era names are the official ones given in lists. However, as the "northern" era names  were the ones actually used in most of the country, they are normally given somewhere in the lists, often marked as "northern dynasty."  

===Start of an Era===

===Start of an Era===

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[[Category:Resource Articles]]

[[Category:Resource Articles]]