Japanese Eras
Japanese Era Names and Dates by Ages and Period
The most common method of dating years in Japan has been by using era names (nengô 年号) such as Genki 3 (元亀三年) [1572] or Heisei 19 (平成十九年) [2007]. [1] The starts and the names of the eras are determined by the imperial court.[2] The following is a list of the date of the start of the Japanese eras in chronological order. Note that not all alternate readings of era names have been indicated. For more information read the article on Year dates.
"Periods" and "ages" are determined by historians. The general periods are pretty much agreed upon, but usually the start or end involved several pivotal events which could reasonally be said to demarcate the period. For more information, see the notes. Some vague "periods" such as the Sengoku Period [3] are not listed. For periods of art history, see Nelson's Dictionary.
Ancient Age 古代 (--1185)
Asuka/Yamato Period 飛鳥/大和 時代
- 645-645 大化 Taika
- 650-654? 白雉 Hakuchi
- 686-686? 朱鳥 Shuchô
- 701-704 大宝 Taihô
- 704-708 慶雲 Keiun
- 708-715 和銅 Wadô
Nara/Yamato Period 奈良/大和 時代 (710-794)[4]
- 715 霊亀 Reiki
- 717 養老 Yôrô
- 724 神亀 Jinki
- 729 天平 Tenpyô
- 749 天平感宝 Tenpyô-kanpô
- 749 天平勝宝 Tenpyô-shôhô
- 757 天平宝字 Tenpyô-hôji
- 765 天平神護 Tenpyô-jingo
- 767 神護景雲 Jingo-keiun
- 770 宝亀 Hôki
- 781 天応 Ten'ô
- 782 延暦 Enryaku
Heian Period 平安時代[5]
- 806 大同 Daidô
- 810 弘仁 Kônin
- 824 天長 Tenchô
- 834 承和 Jôwa (also read as Shôwa)
- 848 嘉祥 Kajô
- 851 仁寿 Ninju
- 854 斉衡 Saikô
- 857 天安 Tennan
- 859 貞観 Jôgan
- 877 元慶 Gangyô (also read as Gankyô or Genkei)
- 885 仁和 Ninna
- 889 寛平 Kanpyô
- 898 昌泰 Shôtai
- 901 延喜 Engi
- 923 延長 Enchô
- 931 承平 Jôhei (also read as Shôhei)
- 938 天慶 Tengyô
- 947 天暦 Tenryaku
- 957 天徳 Tentoku
- 961 応和 ôwa
- 964 康保 Kôhô
- 968 安和 Anna
- 970 天禄 Tenroku
- 973 天延 Ten'en
- 976 貞元 Jôgen
- 978 天元 Tengen
- 983 永観 Eikan
- 985 寛和 Kanna
- 987 永延 Eien
- 989 永祚 Eiso
- 990 正暦 Shôryaku (also read as Jôryaku or Shôreki)
- 995 長徳 Chôtoku
- 999 長保 Chôhô
- 1004 寛弘 Kankô
- 1012 長和 Chôwa
- 1017 寛仁 Kannin
- 1021 治安 Jian
- 1024 万寿 Manju
- 1028 長元 Chôgen
- 1037 長暦 Chôryaku
- 1040 長久 Chôkyû
- 1044 寛徳 Kantoku
- 1046 永承 Eishô (also read as Eijô or Yôjô)
- 1053 天喜 Tengi
- 1058 康平 Kôhei
- 1065 治暦 Jiryaku
- 1069 延久 Enkyû
- 1074 承保 Jôhô
- 1077 承暦 Jôryaku ((also read as Shôryaku or Shôreki)
- 1081 永保 Eihô
- 1084 応徳 Ôtoku
- 1087 寛治 Kanji
- 1094 嘉保 Kahô
- 1096 永長 Eichô
- 1097 承徳 Jôtoku (also read as Shôtoku)
- 1099 康和 Kôwa
- 1104 長治 Chôji
- 1106 嘉承 Kajô (also read as Kashô or Kasô)
- 1108 天仁 Tennin
- 1110 天永 Ten'ei
- 1113 永久 Eikyû
- 1118 元永 Gen'ei
- 1120 保安 Hôan
- 1124 天治 Tenji
- 1126 大治 Daiji Taiji
- 1131 天承 Tenshô] (Also read as Tenjō)
- 1132 長承 Chôshô (also read as Chôjô)
- 1135 保延 Hôen
- 1141 永治 Eiji
- 1142 康治 Kôji
- 1144 天養 Ten'yô
- 1145 久安 Kyûan
- 1151 仁平 Ninpei (also read as Ninpyô)
- 1154 久寿 Kyûju
- 1156 保元 Hôgen
- 1159 平治 Heiji
- 1160 永暦 Eiryaku
- 1161 応保 Ôhô
- 1163 長寛 Chôkan
- 1165 永万 Eiman
- 1166 仁安 Ninnan
- 1169 嘉応 Kaô
- 1171 承安 Jôan
- 1175 安元 Angen
- 1177 治承 Jishô (also read as Jijô)
- 1181 養和 Yôwa
- 1182 寿永 Juei
- 1184 元暦 Genryaku
Middle Ages 中世 (1185-1573)
Kamakura Period 鎌倉時代 (1185-1333)[6]
- 1185 文治 Bunji
- 1190 建久 Kenkyû
- 1199 正治 Shôji
- 1201 建仁 Kennin
- 1204 元久 Genkyû
- 1206 建永 Ken'ei
- 1207 承元 Jôgen
- 1211 建暦 Kenryaku
- 1213 建保 Kenpô]
- 1219 承久 Jôkyû
- 1222 貞応 Jôô
- 1224 元仁 Gennin
- 1225 嘉禄 Karoku
- 1227 安貞 Antei
- 1229 寛喜 Kanki (also read as Kangi)
- 1232 貞永 Jôei
- 1233 天福 Tenpuku
- 1234 文暦 Bunryaku
- 1235 嘉禎 Katei
- 1238 暦仁 Ryakunin
- 1239 延応 En'ô
- 1240 仁治 Ninji
- 1243 寛元 Kangen
- 1247 宝治 Hôji
- 1249 建長 Kenchô
- 1256 康元 Kôgen
- 1257 正嘉 Shôka
- 1259 正元 Shôgen
- 1260 文応 Bun'ô
- 1261 弘長 Kôcho
- 1264 文永 Bun'ei
- 1275 建治 Kenji
- 1278 弘安 Kôan
- 1288 正応 Shôô
- 1293 永仁 Einin
- 1299 正安 Shôan
- 1302 乾元 Kengen
- 1303 嘉元 Kagen
- 1306 徳治 Tokuji
- 1308 延慶 Enkei (also read as Enkyô)
- 1311 応長 Ôchô
- 1312 正和 Shôwa
- 1317 文保 Bunpô
- 1319 元応 Gen'ô
- 1321 元亨 Genkyô (also read as Genkô)
- 1324 正中 Shôchû
- 1326 嘉暦 Karyaku
- 1329 元徳 Gentoku
- 1331 元弘 Genkô
Muromachi Period 室町時代 (1333-1573)[7]
Nanbokucho Period 南北朝時代 (1336-1392)
At the present the southern court is officially considered to have been the legitimate court, and thus the southern court era names are considered the official ones. However, most of the country used the northern era names.
Southern Court
- 1334 建武 Kemmu
- 1336 延元 Engen
- 1340 興国 Kôkoku
- 1346 正平 Shôhei
- 1370 建徳 Kentoku
- 1372 文中 Bunchû
- 1375 天授 Tenju
- 1381 弘和 Kôwa
- 1384 元中 Genchû (Genchû 9 became Meitoku 3 upon reunification)
Northern Court
- 1332 正慶 Shôkei (also read as Shôkyô)
- (Northern court not in existence between 1333 and 1336)
- 1338 暦応 Ryakuô
- 1342 康永 Kôei
- 1345 貞和 Jôwa
- 1350 観応 Kannô (also read as Kan'ô)
- 1352 文和 Bunna
- 1356 延文 Enbun
- 1361 康安 Kôan
- 1362 貞治 Jôji
- 1368 応安 Ôan
- 1375 永和 Eiwa
- 1379 康暦 Kôryaku
- 1381 永徳 Eitoku
- 1384 至徳 Shitoku
- 1387 嘉慶 Kakei
- 1389 康応 Kôô
- 1390 明徳 Meitoku
Rest of Muromachi Period
- 1394 応永 Ôei
- 1428 正長 Shôchô
- 1429 永享 Eikyô
- 1441 嘉吉 Kakitsu
- 1444 文安 Bun'an (also read as Bunnan)
- 1449 宝徳 Hôtoku
- 1452 享徳 Kyôtoku
- 1455 康正 Kôshô
- 1457 長禄 Chôroku
- 1460 寛正 Kanshô
- 1466 文正 Bunshô
- 1467 応仁 ônin
- 1469 文明 Bunmei
- 1487 長享 Chôkyô
- 1489 延徳 Entoku
- 1492 明応 Meiô
- 1501 文亀 Bunki
- 1504 永正 Eishô
- 1521 大永 Daiei
- 1528 享禄 Kyôroku
- 1532 天文 Tenbun
- 1555 弘治 Kôji
- 1558 永禄 Eiroku
- 1570 元亀 Genki
Early Modern Age 近世 (1573-1868)
Azuchi-Momoyama 安土桃山 (1573-1603) [8]
Edo Period 江戸時代 (1603-1868)[9]
- 1615 元和 Genna
- 1624 寛永 Kan'ei
- 1644 正保 Shôhô
- 1648 慶安 Keian
- 1652 承応 Jôô
- 1655 明暦 Meireki
- 1658 万治 Manji
- 1661 寛文 Kanbun
- 1673 延宝 Enpô
- 1681 天和 Tenna
- 1684 貞享 Jôkyô
- 1688 元禄 Genroku
- 1704 宝永 Hôei
- 1711 正徳 Shôtoku
- 1716 享保 Kyôhô
- 1736 元文 Genbun
- 1741 寛保 Kanpô
- 1744 延享 Enkyô
- 1748 寛延 Kan'en
- 1751 宝暦 Hôreki (also Hôryaku)
- 1764 明和 Meiwa
- 1772 安永 An'ei
- 1781 天明 Tenmei
- 1789 寛政 Kansei
- 1801 享和 Kyôwa
- 1804 文化 Bunka
- 1818 文政 Bunsei
- 1830 天保 Tenpô
- 1844 弘化 Kôka
- 1848 嘉永 Kaei
Bakumatsu Period 幕末 [10]
Modern Age 近代 (1868-1945)
Present 現代 (1945--)
- 1989 平成 Heisei
Note that the last four eras are sometimes abbreviated as M., T., S., or H.
Alphabetical list of Nengô
An'ei | 安永 | 1772 |
Angen | 安元 | 1175 |
Anna | 安和 | 968 |
Ansei | 安政 | 1854 |
Antei | 安貞 | 1227 |
Bun'an | 文安 | 1444 |
Bunchû | 文中 | 1372 |
Bun'ei | 文永 | 1264 |
Bunji | 文治 | 1185 |
Bunka | 文化 | 1804 |
Bunki | 文亀 | 1501 |
Bunkyû | 文久 | 1861 |
Bunmei | 文明 | 1469 |
Bunna | 文和 | 1352 |
Bun'ô | 文応 | 1260 |
Bunpô | 文保 | 1317 |
Bunroku | 文禄 | 1592 |
Bunryaku | 文暦 | 1234 |
Bunsei | 文政 | 1818 |
Bunshô | 文正 | 1466 |
Chôgen | 長元 | 1028 |
Chôhô | 長保 | 999 |
Chôji | 長治 | 1104 |
Chôkan | 長寛 | 1163 |
Chôkyô | 長享 | 1487 |
Chôkyû | 長久 | 1040 |
Chôroku | 長禄 | 1457 |
Chôryaku | 長暦 | 1037 |
Chôshô | 長承 | 1132 |
Chôtoku | 長徳 | 995 |
Chôwa | 長和 | 1012 |
Daidô | 大同 | 806 |
Daiei | 大永 | 1521 |
Daiji | 大治 | 1126 |
Eichô | 永長 | 1096 |
Eien | 永延 | 987 |
Eihô | 永保 | 1081 |
Eiji | 永治 | 1141 |
Eikan | 永観 | 983 |
Eikyô | 永享 | 1429 |
Eikyû | 永久 | 1113 |
Eiman | 永万 | 1165 |
Einin | 永仁 | 1293 |
Eiroku | 永禄 | 1558 |
Eiryaku | 永暦 | 1160 |
Eishô | 永承 | 1046 |
Eishô | 永正 | 1504 |
Eiso | 永祚 | 988 |
Eitoku | 永徳 | 1381 |
Eiwa | 永和 | 1375 |
Enbun | 延文 | 1356 |
Enchô | 延長 | 923 |
Engen | 延元 | 1336 |
Engi | 延喜 | 901 |
Enkei | 延慶 | 1308 |
Enkyô | 延享 | 1744 |
Enkyû | 延久 | 1069 |
En'ô | 延応 | 1239 |
Enpô | 延宝 | 1673 |
Enryaku | 延暦 | 782 |
Entoku | 延徳 | 1489 |
Gangyô | 元慶 | 877 |
Genbun | 元文 | 1736 |
Genchû | 元中 | 1384 |
Gen'ei | 元永 | 1118 |
Genji | 元治 | 1864 |
Genki | 元亀 | 1570 |
Genkô | 元弘 | 1331 |
Genkyô | 元亨 | 1321 |
Genkyû | 元久 | 1204 |
Genna | 元和 | 1615 |
Gennin | 元仁 | 1224 |
Gen'ô | 元応 | 1319 |
Genroku | 元禄 | 1688 |
Genryaku | 元暦 | 1184 |
Gentoku | 元徳 | 1329 |
Hakuchi | 白雉 | 650 |
Heiji | 平治 | 1159 |
Heisei | 平成 | 1989 |
Hôan | 保安 | 1120 |
Hôei | 宝永 | 1704 |
Hôen | 保延 | 1135 |
Hôgen | 保元 | 1156 |
Hôji | 宝治 | 1247 |
Hôki | 宝亀 | 770 |
Hôreki | 宝暦 | 1751 |
Hôtoku | 宝徳 | 1449 |
Jian | 治安 | 1021 |
Jingo- keiun |
神護景雲 | 767 |
Jinki | 神亀 | 724 |
Jiryaku | 治暦 | 1065 |
Jishô | 治承 | 1177 |
Jôan | 承安 | 1171 |
Jôei | 貞永 | 1232 |
Jôgan | 貞観 | 859 |
Jôgen | 承元 | 1207 |
Jôgen | 貞元 | 976 |
Jôhei | 承平 | 931 |
Jôhô | 承保 | 1074 |
Jôji | 貞治 | 1362 |
Jôkyô | 貞享 | 1684 |
Jôkyû | 承久 | 1219 |
Jôô | 貞応 | 1222 |
Jôô | 承応 | 1652 |
Jôryaku | 承暦 | 1077 |
Jôtoku | 承徳 | 1097 |
Jôwa | 貞和 | 1345 |
Jôwa | 承和 | 834 |
Juei | 寿永 | 1182 |
Kaei | 嘉永 | 1848 |
Kagen | 嘉元 | 1303 |
Kahô | 嘉保 | 1094 |
Kajô | 嘉承 | 1106 |
Kajô | 嘉祥 | 848 |
Kakei | 嘉慶 | 1387 |
Kakitsu | 嘉吉 | 1441 |
Kanbun | 寛文 | 1661 |
Kan'ei | 寛永 | 1624 |
Kan'en | 寛延 | 1748 |
Kangen | 寛元 | 1243 |
Kanji | 寛治 | 1087 |
Kanki | 寛喜 | 1229 |
Kankô | 寛弘 | 1004 |
Kanna | 寛和 | 985 |
Kannin | 寛仁 | 1017 |
Kannô | 観応 | 1350 |
Kanpô | 寛保 | 1741 |
Kanpyô | 寛平 | 889 |
Kansei | 寛政 | 1789 |
Kanshô | 寛正 | 1460 |
Kantoku | 寛徳 | 1044 |
Kaô | 嘉応 | 1169 |
Karoku | 嘉禄 | 1225 |
Karyaku | 嘉暦 | 1326 |
Katei | 嘉禎 | 1235 |
Keian | 慶安 | 1648 |
Keichô | 慶長 | 1596 |
Keiô | 慶応 | 1865 |
Keiun | 慶雲 | 704 |
Kemmu | 建武 | 1334 |
Kenchô | 建長 | 1249 |
Ken'ei | 建永 | 1206 |
Kengen | 乾元 | 1302 |
Kenji | 建治 | 1275 |
Kenkyû | 建久 | 1190 |
Kennin | 建仁 | 1201 |
Kenpô] | 建保 | 1213 |
Kenryaku | 建暦 | 1211 |
Kentoku | 建徳 | 1370 |
Kôan | 弘安 | 1278 |
Kôan | 康安 | 1361 |
Kôcho | 弘長 | 1261 |
Kôei | 康永 | 1342 |
Kôgen | 康元 | 1256 |
Kôhei | 康平 | 1058 |
Kôhô | 康保 | 964 |
Kôji | 康治 | 1142 |
Kôji | 弘治 | 1555 |
Kôka | 弘化 | 1844 |
Kôkoku | 興国 | 1340 |
Kônin | 弘仁 | 810 |
Kôô | 康応 | 1389 |
Kôryaku | 康暦 | 1379 |
Kôshô | 康正 | 1455 |
Kôwa | 康和 | 1099 |
Kôwa | 弘和 | 1381 |
Kyôhô | 享保 | 1716 |
Kyôroku | 享禄 | 1528 |
Kyôtoku | 享徳 | 1452 |
Kyôwa | 享和 | 1801 |
Kyûan | 久安 | 1145 |
Kyûju | 久寿 | 1154 |
Man'en | 万延 | 1860 |
Manji | 万治 | 1658 |
Manju | 万寿 | 1024 |
Meiji | 明治 | 1868 |
Meiô | 明応 | 1492 |
Meireki | 明暦 | 1655 |
Meitoku | 明徳 | 1390 |
Meiwa | 明和 | 1764 |
Ninji | 仁治 | 1240 |
Ninju | 仁寿 | 851 |
Ninna | 仁和 | 885 |
Ninnan | 仁安 | 1166 |
Ninpei | 仁平 | 1151 |
Ôan | 応安 | 1368 |
Ôchô | 応長 | 1311 |
Ôei | 応永 | 1394 |
Ôhô | 応保 | 1161 |
Ônin | 応仁 | 1467 |
Ôtoku | 応徳 | 1084 |
Ôwa | 応和 | 961 |
Reiki | 霊亀 | 715 |
Ryakunin | 暦仁 | 1238 |
Ryakuô | 暦応 | 1338 |
Saikô | 斉衡 | 854 |
Shitoku | 至徳 | 1384 |
Shôan | 正安 | 1299 |
Shôchô | 正長 | 1428 |
Shôchû | 正中 | 1324 |
Shôgen | 正元 | 1259 |
Shôhei | 正平 | 1346 |
Shôhô | 正保 | 1644 |
Shôji | 正治 | 1199 |
Shôka | 正嘉 | 1257 |
Shôkei | 正慶 | 1332 |
Shôô | 正応 | 1288 |
Shôryaku | 正暦 | 990 |
Shôtai | 昌泰 | 898 |
Shôtoku | 正徳 | 1711 |
Shôwa | 正和 | 1312 |
Shôwa | 昭和 | 1926 |
Shuchô | 朱鳥 | 686 |
Taihô | 大宝 | 701 |
Taika | 大化 | 645 |
Taishô | 大正 | 1912 |
Tenbun | 天文 | 1532 |
Tenchô | 天長 | 824 |
Ten'ei | 天永 | 1110 |
Ten'en | 天延 | 973 |
Tengen | 天元 | 978 |
Tengi | 天喜 | 1053 |
Tengyô | 天慶 | 938 |
Tenji | 天治 | 1124 |
Tenju | 天授 | 1375 |
Tenmei | 天明 | 1781 |
Tenna | 天和 | 1681 |
Tennan | 天安 | 857 |
Tennin | 天仁 | 1108 |
Ten'ô | 天応 | 781 |
Tenpô | 天保 | 1830 |
Tenpuku | 天福 | 1233 |
Tenpyô | 天平 | 729 |
Tenpyô- hôji |
天平宝字 | 757 |
Tenpyô- jingo |
天平神護 | 765 |
Tenpyô- kanpô |
天平感宝 | 749 |
Tenpyô- shôhô |
天平勝宝 | 749 |
Tenroku | 天禄 | 970 |
Tenryaku | 天暦 | 947 |
Tenshô | 天正 | 1573 |
Tenshô] | 天承 | 1131 |
Tentoku | 天徳 | 957 |
Ten'yô | 天養 | 1144 |
Tokuji | 徳治 | 1306 |
Wadô | 和銅 | 708 |
Yôrô | 養老 | 717 |
Yôwa | 養和 | 1181 |
Notes
- ↑ To find the western equivalent of a year expressed in terms of eras, use: [start date] + [year of period] -1. Thus Keichô 5 (慶長五年) = 1596 +5 -1 =1600.
- ↑ "Private eras" (私年号) are occasionally found in literature or on artifacts. For a list of the major ones see the Kôjien.
- ↑ 戦国時代, "Period of the Warring Nation" or "Warring Provinces." Start: Ônin War (1477), Hôjô Sôun's invasion of Izu province (1493), or somewhere between; end: Oda Nobunaga's entrance into Kyoto (1568), Toyotomi Hideyoshi's unification of the country (with the defeat of the Go-Hôjô clan 1590), fall of Osaka Castle (1615).
- ↑ The period of rule by the imperial court from Nara 奈良 in Yamato province. Ususally the period from 784 to 794 when the capital was in Nagaoko-kyô 長岡京 in Yamashiro province is also included.
- ↑ The period of rule by the imperial court from Heian-kyô 平安京, that is, Kyoto.
- ↑ The period of rule by the shogunate from Kamakura. Start: establishment of the shogunate by Minamoto Yoritomo (1185), end: end of the Kamakura shogunate (1333)
- ↑ The period of the rule of the Ashikaga shoguns from Muromachi in Kyoto. Start: end of the Kamakura Period (1333), start of the Ashikaga Shogunate (1336); end: virtual loss of power by the shogunate (1377), expulsion of the last Ashikaga shogun (1573)
- ↑ Period of rule by Oda Nobunaga from Azuchi castle and by Toyotomi Hideyoshi from Fushimi castle in Momoyama, Kyoto. Start: Nobunaga's entry into Kyoto (1568), expulsion of the last Ashikaga shogun (1573); end: Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603), fall of Osaka Castle (1615)
- ↑ The period of the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns from Edo. Start: Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory at the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), esablishment of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603), fall of Osaka Castle (1615); end: resignation of the last Tokugawa shogun (1867), start of the Meiji government (1868). The "Early Edo Period" ended with the death of Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1651.
- ↑ "End of the Shogunate." The period from the arrival of Matthew Perry in 1853 to the end of the Boshin War and the establishment of the Meiji government in 1868.
References
- Nelson, A. N., The Modern Reader's Japanese-English Character Dictionary, Rev. ed., Tuttle, 1966.
- Kôjien Dictionary