As of 2019, the number of eras used in Japan is 231 . There is also.
In the "Nanbokucho period" when the imperial court was divided into the Southern and Northern courts at the same time as the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate, the era names were used separately, so if you include them, 247 It will also be.
This time, I will introduce the origin of the name of the era name that was used many times with that era, and the blank 50 years when the era name was not decided for some reason.
Japan's first "Taika"! Adopted from Chinese documents!
"Taika" Isn't it a pretty famous era?
There is one reason.
"Taika Reform" that you will learn first in history class Is nothing but the word.
Middle and Big Brother Prince And Kamatari Nakagami Is Soga no Iruka The case of assassinating Mr.
It's easy to remember that this assassination was " Otomi ". Weird " The truth is that it is called.
The reform aimed at destroying the dictatorship Soga, launching a new government, and aiming for a new nation is called "Taika Reform." This has been going on for over 50 years.
At this time, Japan began to set the era with reference to China at that time.
The origin of "Taika" is the ancient Chinese history book " Shokei ". The meaning is "His Majesty the Emperor teaches and guides the princes of the nations" And so on.
Taika characters can be seen in many other history books, and they were adopted from there.
"Taika" is "leading people with great virtue" It means that it was a word that expressed the consciousness of major reforms such as changing the government of Japan at that time.
Next to Taika is "Hakuchi"! Adopted because a white pheasant was given!
The first era in Japan, "Taika," will end in about five years.
Taika February 5 , Nagato Province From the Kokushi of (currently Yamaguchi Prefecture), the 36th emperor, Takanori Emperor To white pheasant Was presented.
"When the Holy King goes out into the world and reigns over the world, the heavens will answer and auspicious signs will appear. You can see the Shinme in Japan.
The emperor of the time when white animals were seen has virtue. But this is nothing but everyone's sincere help.
Let's continue to prosper the world with a pure and pure white heart. "
With the appearance of the white pheasant, a grand ceremony was held, and the era name was "white pheasant" . It was changed.
About five years after the death of Emperor Kotoku, the era of Hakuchi was over, but it feels peaceful to change the yuan, which is believed to be a good sign.
There was a blank 50 years without an era !?
After the death of Emperor Kotoku and the end of the Hakuchi era, there was a time when the era could not be given for 32 years.
Finally " Shucho When I think that the era name was attached, the emperor in his 40s at that time, Emperor Tenmu However, a few months after he died again, "Shucho" came to an end, and there was no era name for another 15 years.
Currently " One reign, one generation System " Therefore, there is a system that does not change the era name during the reign of the emperor.
Even from that time, the emperor changed and the yuan was changed. It was rude to change it immediately, so I changed it the following year.
In addition, the era name changed by auspicious signs such as "Hakuchi" and the unlucky era name such as a natural disaster have been changed.
Based on this, I am skeptical about the gap between 32 and 15 years, and the timing when Emperor Tenmu was reigned and the era name "Shucho" was finally established decades later.
There was a lot of consideration about these.
"Jianyuan" and "Kaigen"
"Jianyuan" is the word used when the era is first set up, and "Kaigen" is the word used when the era changes.
However, the "Taika", "Hakuchi", and "Shucho" introduced above were all considered to be "Kaigen".
Of these, only "Hakuchi" is correct, and it is believed that Japan's first era "Taika" and "Shucho" attached after a 32 year blank are not correct.
By the way, the legal system " Taiho Code " that was aimed at by the Taika Reform Was completed in the 701 era "Treasure" When was stipulated, it was said to be the "building origin".
The Japanese era started with "Taika", but the era was cut off many times after that. However, since "Taobao", it continues to the present without interruption.
The name "Japan" was also decided around this time I wonder if the country has seen a way to go in earnest.
A conspiracy by Mr. Fujiwara?
Mr. Kamatari Nakaomi, who is also one of the central figures in the Taika Reform, has been active as an aide to the Prince of the Middle Ages, and has been given the surname of "Fujiwara" just before his death . .. He was the founder of the largest clan in Japanese history, Mr. Fujiwara.
Fujiwara and Emperor Tenmu's eldest son, Prince Takechi , Its child, Prince Nagaya Is in a confrontational relationship, and there was originally another emperor at this time, but there is a theory that Prince Takechi was actually the emperor.
It is said that the era name "Shucho" has not been used for a year, but Japan's oldest wakashu " Manyoshu " 』 You can see the description such as Shucho 8 years and Shucho 10 years.
If "Shucho" is the era name of Prince Takechi, it would be perfect if it was used until 696, when he died.
Furthermore, it is said that there was an era name "Suzaku" between "Shucho" and "Taio", and "Suzaku" is Prince Takechi's younger brother, Prince Osakabe, who assisted the young Prince Nagaya. It is said that he was enthroned to the emperor and was the era name.
Then, in 701, "Taobao" was the era name of Prince Nagaya.
These are said to have been erased from the history book "Nihon Shoki" by Mr. Fujiwara, who was in a conflicting relationship.
What is the "Kyushu Year" of the Kyushu Dynasty?
There is a theory that there was a dynasty representing Japan in the Kyushu region, and it is said that the dynasty used the era name.
517 " Succession From "" to "Daicho" at the beginning of 700, more than 30 eras were used.
"Taika," "Hakuchi," and "Shucho" also exist in the Kyushu dynasty, and it is suspected that they were plagiarized.
" Hakuho " in the Kyushu dynasty There is also a theory that this era was actually used around the time of the blank 32 years. The culture of this era was called "Hakuho culture".
It seems that you have a deep relationship with the Kyushu dynasty.
Another interpretation of "Taika Reform"?
The Taika Reform is famous for 645, but there is an interesting theory that it was actually 50 years later, 695.
The Kyushu dynasty also had "Taika", which was 695 ..
Fujiwara no Fuhito to the second son of Mr. Kamatari There is a person named Mr., but only his descendants were able to give his surname Fujiwara. And we will create the golden age of Mr. Fujiwara.
The theory here is that "Kamatari =incomparable" There is something like that.
Originally, in 645, the case of the assassination of Soga no Iruka by Prince Kinashi no Karu and Prince Kinashi no Karu happened, and Prince Kinashi no Karu (36s, Emperor Kotoku) will take the throne and perform "Taika Reform". The mystery of why the middle-aged and big brother did not become the emperor himself remains.
In fact, the "Yin Wood Snake" happened in 695, and Prince Kinashi (42nd Emperor Monmu) and Kamatari Nakaomi (=Fuhito) assassinated Prince Takechi It is said that.
What an interesting and compelling consideration, isn't it?