Jianwen (; 6 February 1399 – 29 July 1402) was the era name (nianhao) of the Jianwen Emperor, the second emperor of the Ming dynasty, lasting for four years. The Yongle Emperor did not recognize the Jianwen era name after the success of the Jingnan campaign and changed Jianwen 4 to Hongwu 35.[1] In 1595 (Wanli 23), the Wanli Emperor issued an edict to restore the Jianwen era name.[2]
The Yongle Emperor never announced the abolition of the Jianwen era name. Some scholars believe that the abolition of the era name was not Yongle's intention but rather the actions of his subordinates. Some people also believe that the Yongle Emperor deliberately distorted the history of the Jianwen era by heavily revising the Taizu Shilu and compiling the Fengtian Jingnan Ji, which is equivalent to abolishing the Jianwen era name, but he was unwilling to personally implement it publicly and bear the historical responsibility.[3]
| Jianwen | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AD | 1399 | 1400 | 1401 | 1402 | |
| Sexagenary cycle | Jǐmǎo | Gēngchén | Xīnsì | Rénwǔ |