Japanese Era

[Jean]

I have for a few years been aware of the split of Japanese history in Eras, ...Heian, Kamakura, Nambokucho, Muromachi .....

 

A year or so ago, I bought from Michael (Satcho) The Teiryo Joyi by Honami Koson, I have not the book with me (fantastic one) at the time being but I was very surprised that the eras listed in the book does not match at all (dates) the ones which are usually accepted. I shall check tonight and give further details.

 

I would not have mentionned it, were it not for the fact the other day I was reading an article written by a Japanese expert (I can't remember who, but a top one) who was dating Muromachi from 1333 totally erasing Nambokucho...

 

As anyone any idea about these datings???

[Bugyotsuji]

Just off-hand, I do know that Muromachi was a sort of all-embracing pre-Edo period which was almost as long as Edo, and contained many elements within it, including presumably the Nambokucho split. The clearest one in my mind is the flowering cultural Momoyama Period which slots into the tail end of Muromachi, but doesn't appear on date lists as an 'age' per se...

 

I for one would be very interested to hear what your book says, Jean.

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

http://token.alldiscussion.net/divers-f ... 6.htm#2788

[Jean]

Excellent small article from Jacques on our French Forum, you'll just have to Babel fish it. :D :D

[Guido]

I put the attached list of emperors (preceeded by a number) and Nengô together using different sources, and cross-checking them with the "songô to nengô no yobikata" that is based on studies of the Kunaichô (imperial household agency), which - at least in my books - should be considered the final authority on dates and readings.

period.pdf

[Brian]

Even down to the exact day of the month

 

Wow. Thanks Guido, I will add that to the articles section too, for later reference.

I would agree that it would be the definitive date guide for me.

 

Brian

[Jean]

I have already save a copy on my computer

 

Thanks a lot Guido

 

I shall post this evening Koson's date

[Jean]

Hi Piers,

 

Book was written in 1932, differences are encountered in Muromachi/Shinto even with Allbert Yamanaka

 

Extract from Teiryo Yoji :(it is a general "quote") :

 

page 14

 

Muromachi : From Oeï First - 1304 AD to Choroku 3 rd 1459 AD

 

With a Footnote from Albert Yamanaka : In most History books the end of the Muromachi period is dated as Bunsey 1st - However, in this writing of Koson, the date is set has above

 

 

page 16 :

 

Sengoku period : From Kansho 1st 1460 to Bunroku 4th 1595

 

With a Footnote from Albert Yamanaka : The 1st year of the Sengoku period or Momoyama is commonly placed at Onin 1st (1467) as far as sword studies are concerned. Koson later corrected this in his writings.

 

page 18 :

 

Shinto - Toyotomi or Tokugawa Period : From Keicho 1st 1596 to Kyowa 3rd 1803

 

With a Footnote from Albert Yamanaka : The last year of the Shinto period is places at Anei 9th - 1780, the Koson date is placed 23 years later

[Guest reinhard]

You cannot always pin down THE exact date for the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Some processes took years to complete. F.e. Sekigahara (1600 A.D.) was a turning point in Japanese history, but it took Tokugawa Iyeyasu some more years to overcome the remaining resistance and to finally establish Edo as the new capital. Therefore the fall of Osaka castle (1615 A.D.) can as well be seen as the beginning of the Edo period. This is even trickier when it comes to swords. Horikawa KUNIHIRO did not decide to found a new movement one particular day. It was a process developping over the years and continued by his students. It is interesting to see how he changed his style during his work-span. We are used to terms like Keicho-ShinTo, but they're misleading, if someone is sticking to them slavishly as belonging to the Keicho-era.

Suishinshi MASAHIDE started as a copyist of Osaka-ShinTo style swords (in which he succeded best,BTW) and only later initiated the "back to the roots"-movement, that is known nowadays as Shin-Shin-To. You cannot track this down to one particular year.

Sword afficionados (outside of Japan) tend to the idea, that historical and cultural periods are immediately connected to the history of swords. This is, of course, not the case. Development and change in NihonTo followed the change in warfare and society but within their own logics and necessities and did not follow a strict time-table. Regional differences come into play additionally. Some remained conservative while others took up innovations immediately.

 

reinhard

[Bungo]

I love this talks of historical era......

we all know about the Taira ( Heike )and the Genji ( Minamoto ) and how Minamoto Yoritomo finally kicked the Heike's collective butts ( killed off the house in battle of dan-no-ura )and ruled supreme in Kamakura as the shogun.

But........ it's little mentioned that after Yoritomo died, the Hojo ( Yoritomo's in-laws ) took over.

Guess what...... the Hojo were Taira !!

 

Strange.

 

 

milt

[Ichi]

Nobunaga being a Heike was surrounded by his own generals from Genji descendant.

[Guido]

Sorry if I just stomp over that ADS'ish post by Milt but here's a list of sword periods (see attachment). Although I gave exat dates again (btw, the format is, like with the emperor/Nengô list, dd/mm/yyyy), it shouldn't be taken too seriously for the reasons explained by Reinhard.

SWORD PERIODS.pdf