Part of a series on the |
History of Japan |
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Hakuchi (白雉) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. "year name") after the Taika era and before Shuchō. This period spanned the years from February 650 through December 654. [1] The reigning emperor was Kōtoku-tennō (孝徳天皇). [2]
The era began in 650, the sixth year of the Taika era, which was thus known as Hakuchi gannen (白雉元年, "Hakuchi start"). [3] The daimyō of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. This white pheasant was then construed as a good omen. Emperor Kōtoku was extraordinarily pleased by this special avian rarity, and he wanted the entire court to see this white bird for themselves. He commanded a special audience in which he could formally invite the sadaijin and the udaijin to join him in admiring the rare bird; and on this occasion, the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant"). [4]
In Japan, this was the second nengō, [1] derived from the Chinese system of eras ( nianhao); [5] although some scholarly doubt has been cast on the authenticity of Taika and Hakuchi as historically legitimate era names. [6]
Timelines of early Japanese nengō and Imperial reign dates |
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The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.
Part of a series on the |
History of Japan |
---|
Hakuchi (白雉) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. "year name") after the Taika era and before Shuchō. This period spanned the years from February 650 through December 654. [1] The reigning emperor was Kōtoku-tennō (孝徳天皇). [2]
The era began in 650, the sixth year of the Taika era, which was thus known as Hakuchi gannen (白雉元年, "Hakuchi start"). [3] The daimyō of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. This white pheasant was then construed as a good omen. Emperor Kōtoku was extraordinarily pleased by this special avian rarity, and he wanted the entire court to see this white bird for themselves. He commanded a special audience in which he could formally invite the sadaijin and the udaijin to join him in admiring the rare bird; and on this occasion, the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant"). [4]
In Japan, this was the second nengō, [1] derived from the Chinese system of eras ( nianhao); [5] although some scholarly doubt has been cast on the authenticity of Taika and Hakuchi as historically legitimate era names. [6]
Timelines of early Japanese nengō and Imperial reign dates |
---|
The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.