Introduction
- The first Japanese calendar came from China and was brought to Japan by a Buddhist priest from the Korean kingdom of Paekche. In 553, the Yamato court invited the priest to teach astronomy and geography. This calendar was based on the sexagenary cycle (see below): it used twelve branches (支 shi) corresponding to the twelve animal signs and five stems based on five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water) which were used alternately as major stems (positive, older brother, ending in -noe) and minor ones (negative, younger brother, -noto). Each composite sign returned once in sixty years, each cycle starts with "rat-wood-positive" and ended in "boar-water-negative". Even years are positive, odd ones negative in order of the elements. The first cycle started in the year 604 C.E. when the system was adopted. The next cycle will begin in 2044.
- Farmers, on the other hand, used a different calendar that was based on 24 "points" or seasons (二十四節気 nijūshi sekki) which each lasted for about fifteen days. Those seasons were crucial to calculate the dates for agricultural work.
- Solar calendars measure the natural year and are more or less equivalent to the period of the earth's revolution around the sun. They measure the natural year in whole numbers of days (365 or 366) and insert leap years to adjust to the natural year. Lunar calendars are based on the phases of the moon and take civil months as the basic unit of measurement. That means that a full moon occurs on the same day of every civil month. In the Chinese and Japanese civil calendar, a new moon occurred on the first day of the month. The lunar calendar year deviated significantly from the natural year, as twelve civil months added up to 353 days. Thus, in some years a 13th month (intercalary month) was added to make sure that a particular month of the civil calendar and particular seasons of the natural year corresponded. Months with 30 days were called dai-no-tsuki (大の月, long months), months with 29 days shō-no-tsuki (小の月, short months) and intercalary months urū-zuki or jungetsu (閏月, leap months).
- In 1873, Japan introduced the Gregorian calendar, while retaining the traditional calendar based on imperial eras (nengō, see below).
The Old Solar Calendar
While the Japanese civil calendar was a lunar calendar, a solar calendar derived from ancient Chinese astronomers was in use, too, as farmers depended on calculating the best time to plant and to harvest. The natural year was calculated by referring to the period between two instances of the winter solstice. The winter solstice was not the beginning of the solar year but the midpoint of the first of twelve divisions (節 setsu) of the year. Each setsu contained exactly 30.44 days; the beginning was known as sekki (節気), and the midpoint of each setsu as chūki (中期). Winter solstice marked the first chūki of the solar year, so the first setsu occurred fifteen days earlier, around 6 December according to the Gregorian calendar. Each sekki and chūki had its own name and each of the 24 points (二十四節気 nijūshi sekki) corresponded to dates of the Gregorian calendar.Season | Sekki or chūki | Meaning | Association | Gregorian date |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring | Risshun (立春) | Beginning of spring | Old Solar new year | 4 or 5 February |
Usui (雨水) | Rainwater | Snow turns to rain | 19 or 20 February | |
Keichitsu (啓蟄) | Insects stop hibernating | Insects emerge in warmer weather | 5 or 6 March | |
Shunbun (春分) | Vernal equinox | 21 or 22 March | ||
Seimei (清明) | "Pure and clear" | Southeasterly winds bring pleasant weather | 5 or 6 April | |
Kokū (穀雨) | "Grain rains" | Grains germinate in spring rains | 20 or 21 April | |
Summer | Rikka (立夏) | Beginning of summer | 5 or 5 May | |
Shōman (小満) | "The lesser ripening" | All things growing | 21 or 22 may | |
Bōshu (芒種) | "Grain beards and seeds" | Rice transplanting | 6 or 7 June | |
Geshi (夏至) | Summer solstice | 21 or 22 June | ||
Shōsho (小暑) | "The lesser heat" | Summer heat increases | 7 or 8 July | |
Taisho (大暑) | "The greater heat" | Intense summer heat | 23 or 24 July | |
Autumn | Risshū (立秋) | Beginning of autumn | 7 or 8 August | |
Shosho (処暑) | "Manageable heat" | Autumn winds bring a lessening of heat | 23 or 24 August | |
Hakuro (白露) | "White dew" | Autumn weather, birds migrate | 8 or 9 September | |
Shūbun (秋分) | Autumnal equinox | 23 or 24 September | ||
Kanro (寒露) | "Cold dew" | Colouring leaves, the height of autumn | 8 or 9 October | |
Sōkō (霜降) | "Frost falls" | First frost; the end of autumn | 23 or 24 October | |
Winter | Rittō (立冬) | Beginning of winter | 7 or 8 November | |
Shōsetsu (小雪) | "The lesser snow" | Light snowfall | 22 or 23 November | |
Taisetsu (大雪) | "The greater snow" | Heavy snowfall; winter weather | 7 or 8 December | |
Tōji (冬至) | Winter solstice | 21 or 22 December | ||
Shōkan (小寒) | "The lesser cold" | Cold weather increases | 4 or 5 January | |
Daikan (大寒) | "The greater cold" | Intense winter cold | 20 or 21 January |
Zassetsu (雑節)
Zassetsu ("supplementary solar terms)" are days that indicate the change of the seasons.Date | Kanji | Romaji | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
3 February | 節分 | Setsubun | The eve of Risshun by one definition. |
18-24 March | 春彼岸 | Haru higan | The seven days surrounding Shunbun. |
Vernal Equinox day | 春社日 | Haru shanichi | In Shinto. 彼岸中日 (Higan Chunichi) in Buddhism. |
2 May | 八十八夜 | Hachijū hachiya | Literally meaning 88 nights (since Risshun). |
11 June | 入梅 | Nyūbai | Literally meaning entering tsuyu. |
2 July | 半夏生 | Hangeshō | One of the 72 Kō. Farmers take five days off in some regions. |
15 July | 中元 | Chūgen | Officially 15 July. 15 August in many regions (Tsuki-okure). |
20 July | 夏の土用 | Natsu no doyō | Custom of eating eel on this day. |
1 September | 二百十日 | Nihyaku tōka | Literally meaning 210 days (since Risshun). |
11 September | 二百二十日 | Nihyaku hatsuka | Literally "220 days". |
20-26 September | 秋彼岸 | Aki higan | The seven days surrounding Shūbun. |
Autumal Equinox | 秋社日 | Aki shanichi | In Shinto. Called 彼岸中日 in Buddhism. |
The Sexagenary Cycle
In addition to cardinal numbers, Chinese and Japanese use two sets for the purpose of counting: one set contains ten terms known as jikkan (十干), the ten stems; the other contains twelve terms called junishi (十二支), the twelve branches. Since ancient times, East Asian peoples have employed these two sets to count years of their civil calendar. When both series are used together they form a greater cycle of sixty combinations, as 60 is the least common multiple of 10 and 12. The jikkan jūnishi (十干十二支), also known as kanshi (干支), is therefore known as the sexagesimal system.The Ten Stems
Numerals | On'yomi | Kunyomi |
---|---|---|
1 | 甲 (kō) | 木の兄 (kinoe) |
2 | 乙 (otsu) | 木の弟 (kinoto) |
3 | 丙 (hei) | 火の兄 (hinoe) |
4 | 丁 (tei) | 火の弟 (hinoto) |
5 | 戊 (bo) | 土の兄 (tsuchinoe) |
6 | 己 (ki) | 土の弟 (tsuchinoto) |
7 | 庚 (kō) | 金の兄 (kanoe) |
8 | 辛 (shin) | 金の弟(kanoto) |
9 | 壬 (jin) | 水の兄 (mizunoe) |
10 | 癸 (ki) | 水の弟 (mizunoto) |
The Twelve Branches
Animal | On'yomi | Kunyomi | Kanji |
---|---|---|---|
rat | shi (し) | ne (ね) | 子 |
ox | chū (ちゅう) | ushi (うし) | 丑 |
tiger | in (いん) | tora (とら) | 寅 |
hare / rabbit | bō (ぼう) | u | 卯 (う) |
dragon | shin (しん) | tatsu (たつ) | 辰 |
snake | shi (し) | mi (み) | 巳 |
horse | go (ご) | uma (うま) | 午 |
ram / sheep | mi (み)/ bi (び) | hitsuji (ひつじ) | 未 |
monkey | shin (しん) | saru (さる) | 申 |
rooster | yū (ゆう) | tori (とり) | 酉 |
dog | jutsu (じゅつ) | inu (いぬ) | 戌 |
boar | gai (がい) | i (い) | 亥 |
Traditional Japanese month names
In addition to their Sino-Japanese names, such as shōgatsu (the first civil month) and ichigatsu, nigatsu, sangatsu, etc, the Japanese months had also informal or poetic names which were rarely used as parts of full dates.Month | Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
January | 睦月 | Mutsuki | "Month of Love" |
February | 如月 or 衣更着 | Kisaragi / Kinusaragi | "Changing Clothes" |
March | 弥生 | Yayoi | "New Life" |
April | 卯月 | Uzuki | |
May | 皐月 or 早月 or 五月 | Satsuki / Sanaetsuki | "Early-rice-planting Month" |
June | 水無月 | Minatsuki / Minazuki | "No water month" |
July | 文月 | Fuzuki / Fumizuki | "Month of Erudition" |
August | 葉月 | Hazuki | "Month of leaves" |
September | 長月 | Nagatsuki | "Long month" |
October | 神無月 | Kannazuki or Kaminazuki | "No god month"; in Izumo also 神有月 (Kamiarizuki, god month) |
November | 霜月 | Shimotsuki | "Frost month" |
December | 師走 | Shiwasu | "Teachers' run", as teachers are busy at the end of the year |
Rokuyō
The rokuyō (六曜) is a series of six days based on the Chinese calendar. They supposedly predict whether there will be good or bad fortune during that day. The rokuyō are commonly found on Japanese calendars and are often used to plan weddings and funerals, though most people ignore them in ordinary life. The rokuyō are also known as the rokki (六輝).
Kanji | Rōmaji | Meaning |
---|---|---|
先勝 | Senshō | Good luck before noon, bad luck afternoon. |
友引 | Tomobiki | Bad things will happen to your friends. Funerals avoided on this day. |
先負 | Senbu | Bad luck before noon, good luck afternoon. |
仏滅 | Butsumetsu | Most unlucky day. Weddings best avoided. |
大安 | Taian | The luckiest day. Good day for weddings. |
赤口 | Shakkō | The hour of the horse (11 am - 1 pm) is lucky. The rest is bad luck. |
Hours (刻)
The Japanese hour (刻 koku) traditionally corresponded to two Western hours. One day was therefore divided into twelve hours as follows:
Western hour | Japanese hour | Kanji | Bells |
---|---|---|---|
23:00-01:00 | Hour of the Rat | Ne, Nezumi (子) | 9 bells (九 kokonotsu) |
01:00-03:00 | Hour of the Ox | Ushi (丑) | 8 bells (八 yatsu) |
03:00-05:00 | Hour of the Tiger | Tora (寅) | 7 bells (七 nanatsu) |
05:00-07:00 | Hour of the Hare | U, Usagi (卯) | 6 bells (六 mutsu) |
07:00-09:00 | Hour of the Dragon | Tatsu (辰) | 5 bells (五 itsutsu) |
09:00-11:00 | Hour of the Snake | Mi (巳) | 4 bells (四 yotsu) |
11:00-13:00 | Hour of the Horse | Uma (午) | 9 bells (九 kokonotsu) |
13:00-15:00 | Hour of the Sheep | Hitsuji (未) | 8 bells (八 yatsu) |
15:00-17:00 | Hour of the Monkey | Saru (申) | 7 bells (七 nanatsu) |
17:00-19:00 | Hour of the Rooster | Tori (酉) | 6 bells (六 mutsu) |
19:00-21:00 | Hour of the Dog | Inu (戌) | 5 bells (五 itsutsu) |
21:00-23:00 | Hour of the Boar | Inoshishi (亥) | 4 bells (四 yotsu) |
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Nengō (年号)
Nengō, Japanese era names, are an imitation of Chinese practice adopted in Japan in 645 CE. The first Japanese era name that commemorated groundbreaking political reforms was Taika ("Great Reform"). Except for a brief interruption in the seventh century, nengō have been in continual use ever since. A new era was declared within a year or two after a new emperor had acceded the throne. In addition, at two points in each sexagenary cycle, the first year and the 58th (both considered highly auspicious), a new era was proclaimed. Often, era names were changed in the case of joyous or inauspicious events.The era name might indicate the reason for its adoption, but for the most part, the characters have a favourable connotation and allude to the classics of Chinese Confucianism. Only the latest era name, Reiwa (令和), is breaking with tradition, as it is based on the Man'yoshu (万葉集), a Japanese classic. All era names are read according to the Sino-Japanese on readings (音読み on'yomi). Premodern nengō were not "reign names"; only after 1868, era names were applied to the whole reign of an emperor. Starting from Meiji Period, nengō have been designated as posthumous names of the emperors whose reigns they commemorate.
To find the Western equivalent for a Japanese era year, one has to take the Western year in which the first year of the nengō began, subtract one and add the number of the era year. To convert Heisei 29, one has to take the first year, 1989, subtract one and add 29; the corresponding Western year is 2017.
Shinengō are unofficial or private era designations that have never been adopted by the Japanese court. Pre-Taika era names are known as itsunengō (逸年号). During the Nanboku-chō period (1336 to 1392), when two imperial courts, the Northern court in Kyōto and the Southern court in Yoshino, vied for legitimacy, both designated their own nengō. Historically, the Southern Court is widely regarded as the legitimate one.
Year (Gregorian calendar) | Era name in kanji | Romanized era name |
---|---|---|
645 | 大化 | Taika |
650 | 白雉 | Hakuchi (also known as Hakuhō period (白鳳時代) |
654 | No era name | - |
672 | 白鳳 | Hakuhō |
686 | 朱鳥 | Shuchō (also known as Suchō, Akamitori or Akamidori) |
686 | No era name | - |
701 | 大宝 | Daihō / Taihō |
704 | 慶雲 | Keiun / Kyōun |
708 | 和銅 | Wadō |
715 | 霊亀 | Reiki |
717 | 養老 | Yōrō |
724 | 神亀 | Jinki / Shinki |
729 | 天平 | Tempyō (also Tenbyō or Tenhei) |
749 | 天平感宝 | Tempyō-kampō / Tenbyō-kanpō |
749 | 天平勝宝 | Tempyō-shōhō (also Tenbyō-shōbō or Tenpei-shōhō) |
757 | 天平宝字 | Tempyō-hōji (also Tenbyō-hōji or Tenpei-hōji) |
765 | 天平神護 | Tempyō-jingo (also Tenbyō-jingo or Tenhei-jingo) |
767 | 神護景雲 | Jingo-keiun |
770 | 宝亀 | Hōki |
781 | 天応 | Ten'ō |
782 | 延暦 | Enryaku |
806 | 大同 | Daidō |
810 | 弘仁 | Kōnin |
824 | 天長 | Tenchō |
834 | 承和 | Jōwa / Shōwa |
848 | 嘉祥 | Kajō |
851 | 仁寿 | Ninju |
854 | 斉衡 | Saikō |
857 | 天安 | Tennan / Te'nan |
859 | 貞観 | Jōgan |
877 | 元慶 | Genkei (also Gangyō or Gankyō) |
885 | 仁和 | Ninna / Ninwa |
889 | 寛平 | Kanpyō (also Kanpei, Kanbyō, Kanbei or Kanhei |
898 | 昌泰 | Shōtai |
901 | 延喜 | Engi |
923 | 延長 | Enchō |
931 | 承平 | Jōhei / Shōhei |
938 | 天慶 | Tengyō (also Tenkei or Tenkyō) |
947 | 天暦 | Tenryaku / Tenreki |
957 | 天徳 | Tentoku |
961 | 応和 | Ōwa |
964 | 康保 | Kōhō |
968 | 安和 | Anna / Anwa |
970 | 天禄 | Tenroku |
973 | 天延 | Ten'en |
976 | 貞元 | Jōgen / Teigen |
978 | 天元 | Tengen |
983 | 永観 | Eikan / Yōkan |
985 | 寛和 | Kanna / Kanwa |
987 | 永延 | Eien / Yōen |
988 | 永祚 | Eiso / Yōso |
990 | 正暦 | Shōryaku (also Jōryaku or Shōreki) |
995 | 長徳 | Chōtoku |
999 | 長保 | Chōhō |
1004 | 寛弘 | Kankō |
1012 | 長和 | Chōwa |
1017 | 寛仁 | Kannin |
1021 | 治安 | Jian / Chian |
1024 | 万寿 | Manju |
1028 | 長元 | Chōgen |
1037 | 長暦 | Chōryaku / Chōreki |
1040 | 長久 | Chōkyū |
1044 | 寛徳 | Kantoku |
1046 | 永承 | Eishō (also Eijō or Yōjō) |
1053 | 天喜 | Tengi / Tenki |
1058 | 康平 | Kōhei |
1065 | 治暦 | Jiryaku / Chiryaku |
1069 | 延久 | Enkyū |
1074 | 承保 | Jōhō (also Shōhō or Shōho) |
1077 | 承暦 | Shōryaku (also Jōryaku or Shōreki) |
1081 | 永保 | Eihō / Yōhō |
1084 | 応徳 | Ōtoku |
1087 | 寛治 | Kanji |
1094 | 嘉保 | Kahō |
1096 | 永長 | Eichō / Yōchō |
1097 | 承徳 | Jōtoku / Shōtoku |
1099 | 康和 | Kōwa |
1104 | 長治 | Chōji |
1106 | 嘉承 | Kajō (also Kashō or Kasō) |
1108 | 天仁 | Tennin |
1110 | 天永 | Ten'ei / Ten'yō |
1113 | 永久 | Eikyū / Yōkyū |
1118 | 元永 | Gen'ei |
1120 | 保安 | Hōan |
1124 | 天治 | Tenji / Tenchi |
1126 | 大治 | Daiji / Taiji |
1131 | 天承 | Tenshō / Tenjō |
1132 | 長承 | Chōshō / Chōjō |
1135 | 保延 | Hōen |
1141 | 永治 | Eiji |
1142 | 康治 | Kōji |
1144 | 天養 | Ten'yō / Tennyō |
1145 | 久安 | Kyūan |
1151 | 仁平 | Nimpei (also Ninpyō, Ninbyō, Ninhyō or Ninhei) |
1154 | 久寿 | Kyūju |
1156 | 保元 | Hōgen / Hogen |
1159 | 平治 | Heiji / Byōji |
1160 | 永暦 | Eiryaku / Yōryaku |
1161 | 応保 | Ōhō |
1163 | 長寛 | Chōkan / Chōgan |
1165 | 永万 | Eiman / Yōman |
1166 | 仁安 | Ninnan / Nin'an |
1169 | 嘉応 | Kaō |
1171 | 承安 | Shōan / Jōan |
1175 | 安元 | Angen |
1177 | 治承 | Jishō (also Jijō or Chishō) |
1181 | 養和 | Yōwa |
1182 | 寿永 | Juei |
1184 | 元暦 | Genryaku |
1185 | 文治 | Bunji / Monchi |
1190 | 建久 | Kenkyū |
1199 | 正治 | Shōji |
1201 | 建仁 | Kennin |
1204 | 元久 | Genkyū |
1206 | 建永 | Ken'ei / Ken'yō |
1207 | 承元 | Jōgen / Shōgen |
1211 | 建暦 | Kenryaku |
1213 | 建保 | Kempō / Kenhō |
1219 | 承久 | Jōkyū / Shōkyū |
1222 | 貞応 | Jōō / Teiō |
1224 | 元仁 | Gennin |
1225 | 嘉禄 | Karoku |
1227 | 安貞 | Antei / Anjō |
1229 | 寛喜 | Kanki / Kangi |
1232 | 貞永 | Jōei / Teiei |
1233 | 天福 | Tenpuku / Tenfuku |
1234 | 文暦 | Bunryaku (also Monryaku or Monreki) |
1235 | 嘉禎 | Katei |
1238 | 暦仁 | Ryakunin / Rekinin |
1239 | 延応 | En'ō / Ennō |
1240 | 仁治 | Ninji / Ninchi |
1243 | 寛元 | Kangen |
1247 | 宝治 | Hōji |
1249 | 建長 | Kenchō |
1256 | 康元 | Kōgen |
1257 | 正嘉 | Shōka |
1259 | 正元 | Shōgen |
1260 | 文応 | Bun'ō / Bunnō |
1261 | 弘長 | Kōcho |
1264 | 文永 | Bun'ei |
1275 | 建治 | Kenji |
1278 | 弘安 | Kōan |
1288 | 正応 | Shōō |
1293 | 永仁 | Einin |
1299 | 正安 | Shōan |
1302 | 乾元 | Kengen |
1303 | 嘉元 | Kagen |
1306 | 徳治 | Tokuji |
1308 | 延慶 | Enkyō (also Engyō or Enkei) |
1311 | 応長 | Ōchō |
1312 | 正和 | Shōwa |
1317 | 文保 | Bunpō / Bunhō |
1319 | 元応 | Gen'ō / Gennō |
1321 | 元亨 | Genkyō / Genkō |
1324 | 正中 | Shōchū |
1326 | 嘉暦 | Karyaku |
1329 | 元徳 | Gentoku |
1331 | 元弘 | Genkō |
Nanboku-chō period | Southern Court | |
1334 | 建武 | Kemmu / Kenbu |
1336 | 延元 | Engen |
1340 | 興国 | Kōkoku |
1346 | 正平 | Shōhei |
1370 | 建徳 | Kentoku |
1372 | 文中 | Bunchū |
1375 | 天授 | Tenju |
1381 | 弘和 | Kōwa |
1384 | 元中 | Genchū |
Nanboku-chō period | Northern Court | |
1332 | 正慶 | Shōkei / Shōkyō |
1334 | 建武 | Kenmu / Kenbu |
1338 | 暦応 | Ryakuō / Rekiō |
1342 | 康永 | Kōei |
1345 | 貞和 | Jōwa / Teiwa |
1350 | 観応 | Kannō / Kan'ō |
1352 | 文和 | Bunna / Bunwa |
1356 | 延文 | Enbun |
1361 | 康安 | Kōan |
1362 | 貞治 | Jōji / Teiji |
1368 | 応安 | Ōan |
1375 | 永和 | Eiwa |
1379 | 康暦 | Kōryaku |
1381 | 永徳 | Eitoku |
1384 | 至徳 | Shitoku |
1387 | 嘉慶 | Kakei / Kakyō |
1389 | 康応 | Kōō |
1390 | 明徳 | Meitoku (Meitoku 3 replaced Genchū 9 post-Nanboku-chō |
1394 | 応永 | Ōei |
1428 | 正長 | Shōchō |
1429 | 永享 | Eikyō / Eikō |
1441 | 嘉吉 | Kakitsu / Kakichi |
1444 | 文安 | Bunnan / Bun'an |
1449 | 宝徳 | Hōtoku |
1452 | 享徳 | Kyōtoku |
1455 | 康正 | Kōshō |
1457 | 長禄 | Chōroku |
1460 | 寛正 | Kanshō |
1466 | 文正 | Bunshō / Monshō |
1467 | 応仁 | Ōnin |
1469 | 文明 | Bunmei |
1487 | 長享 | Chōkyō |
1489 | 延徳 | Entoku |
1492 | 明応 | Meiō |
1501 | 文亀 | Bunki |
1504 | 永正 | Eishō |
1521 | 大永 | Daiei |
1528 | 享禄 | Kyōroku |
1532 | 天文 | Tembun / Temmon |
1555 | 弘治 | Kōji |
1558 | 永禄 | Eiroku |
1570 | 元亀 | Genki |
1573 | 天正 | Tenshō (suggested by Oda Nobunaga) |
1592 | 文禄 | Bunroku |
1596 | 慶長 | Keichō / Kyōchō |
1615 | 元和 | Genna / Genwa |
1624 | 寛永 | Kan'ei |
1644 | 正保 | Shōhō |
1648 | 慶安 | Keian / Kyōan |
1652 | 承応 | Jōō / Shōō |
1655 | 明暦 | Meireki (also Myōryaku or Meiryaku) |
1658 | 万治 | Manji |
1661 | 寛文 | Kambun |
1673 | 延宝 (延寳) | Empō / Enhō |
1681 | 天和 | Tenna / Tenwa |
1684 | 貞享 | Jōkyō |
1688 | 元禄 | Genroku |
1704 | 宝永 | Hōei |
1711 | 正徳 | Shōtoku |
1716 | 享保 | Kyōhō |
1736 | 元文 | Gembun |
1741 | 寛保 | Kampō / Kanhō |
1744 | 延享 | Enkyō |
1748 | 寛延 | Kan'en |
1751 | 宝暦 | Hōreki / Hōryaku |
1764 | 明和 | Meiwa |
1772 | 安永 | An'ei |
1781 | 天明 | Tenmei |
1789 | 寛政 | Kansei |
1801 | 享和 | Kyōwa |
1804 | 文化 | Bunka |
1818 | 文政 | Bunsei |
1830 | 天保 | Tempō / Tenhō |
1844 | 弘化 | Kōka |
1848 | 嘉永 | Kaei |
1854 | 安政 | Ansei |
1860 | 万延 | Man'en |
1861 | 文久 | Bunkyū |
1864 | 元治 | Genji |
1865 | 慶応 | Keiō |
1868 | 明治 | Meiji |
1912 | 大正 | Taishō |
1926 | 昭和 | Shōwa |
1989 | 平成 | Heisei |
2019 | 令和 | Reiwa |
References:
- What is the Jikkan jūnishi?
- Glossary on Solar Terms - ECO, NAOJ
- Glossary on 60 Kanshi or Sexagenary Cycle - ECO, NAOJ
- The History of the Japanese Calendar (National Diet Library)
- Japanese Calendar (Samurai Archives)