Kangen Explained

was a after Ninji and before Hoji. This period spanned the years from February 1243 to February 1247.^[1] The reigning emperor was .^[2]

Change of era

• ; 1243: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Ninji 4.

Events of the Kangen era

• 1244 (Kangen 2): In the spring of this year, a number of extraordinary phenomena in the skies over Kamakura troubled Yoritsune deeply.^[3]
• 1244 (Kangen 2, 4th month): Yoritsune's son, Yoritsugu, had his coming-of-age ceremonies at age six. In the same month, Yoritsune asked Emperor Go-Saga for permission to give up his responsibilities as shōgun in favor of his son, Kujō Yoritsugu.^[3]
• September 11, 1245 (Kangen 3, 7th month): Yoshitsune shaved his head and became a Buddhist priest.^[3]
• 1246 (Kangen 4, 7th month): Yoritsune's son, now Shōgun Yoritsugu (who is only 7 years old) marries the sister of Hōjō Tsunetoki (who is himself only 16 years old).^[3]
• 1246 (Kangen 4): In the 4th year of Go-Saga-tennōs reign (後嵯峨天皇4年), he abdicated; and despite the succession (senso) was received by his 4-year-old son. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Go-Fukakusa is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).^[4]

References

• Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 58053128
• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
• Varley, H. Paul. (1980). A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa. New York: Columbia University Press. ; OCLC 6042764

External links

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection

Notes and References

1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Kangen" in Japan encyclopedia, p. 470; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File .
2. Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 245-247; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki. p. 228-232.
3. Titsingh, p. 247.
4. Titsingh, pp. 247-248; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of emperor Go-Murakami.