The Historical Era of Japan List
- Written by Mauro
It is always complicated remember what a historical period of Japan was like.
Here is the complete list with the reference dates for rembember the perios era.
Let's try to divide the eras for main periods so that we do not accumulate too many dates together, adding some brief historical references to which we refer. Usually we find the dates indicated by kanji 年 and preceded by the reference era, eg: 明治 for Meiji.
ASAKUSA PERIOD (538-710)
645 大化 Taika Imperatore Kōtoku, 645–654.
650 白雉 Hakuchi o Hakuhō
686 朱鳥 Shuchō o Suchō, Akamitori oppure Akamidori; Emperor Tenmu,672–686
701 大宝 Taihō o Daihō; Emperor Monmu, 697–707
704 慶雲 Keiun o yōun; Emperor Genmei, 707–715
708 和銅 Wadō
NARA PERIOD (710-794)
715 霊亀 Reiki Emperor Genshō, 715–724.
717 養老 Yōrō
724 神亀 Jinki o Shinki; Emperor Shōmu, 724–749
729 天平 Tenpyō o Tenbyō oppure Tenhei
749 天平感宝 Tenpyō-kanpō o Tenbyō-kanpō
749 天平勝宝 Tenpyō-shōhō o Tenbyō-shōbō oppure Tenpei-shōhō; Emperor Kōken, 749–758
757 天平宝字 Tenpyō-hōji o Tenbyō-hōji oppure Tenpei-hōji; Emperor Junnin, 758–764;
Emperor Shōtoku, 764–770
765 天平神護 Tenpyō-jingo o Tenbyō-jingo oppure Tenhei-jingo
767 神護景雲 Jingo-keiun
770 宝亀 Hōki Emperor Kōnin, 770–781
781 天応 Ten'ō Emperor Kanmu, 781–806
782 延暦 Enryaku
HEIAN PERIOD (794-1192)
806 大同 Daidō Imperatore Heizei, 806–809; Imperatore Saga, 809–823
810 弘仁 Kōnin Imperatore Junna, 823–833
824 天長 Tenchō Imperatore Ninmyō, 833–850
834 承和 Jōwa o Shōwa oppure Sōwa
848 嘉祥 Kashō o Kajō; Imperatore Montoku, 850–858.
851 仁寿 Ninju
854 斉衡 Saikō
857 天安 Ten'an o Tennan; Imperatore Seiwa, 858–876
859 貞観 Jōgan Imperatore Yōzei, 876–884
877 元慶 Gangyō o Gankyō oppure Genkei; Imperatore Kōkō, 884–887
885 仁和 Ninna o Ninwa; Imperatore Uda, 887–897
889 寛平 Kanpyō o Kanpei, Kanbyō, Kanbei o Kanhei; Imperatore Daigo, 887–930
898 昌泰 Shōtai
901 延喜 Engi
923 延長 Enchō Imperatore Suzaku, 930–946
931 承平 Jōhei o Shōhei
938 天慶 Tengyō o Tenkei oppure Tenkyō; Imperatore Murakami, 946–967
947 天暦 Tenryaku o Tenreki
957 天徳 Tentoku
961 応和 Ōwa
964 康保 Kōhō Imperatore Reizei, 967–969
968 安和 Anna o Anwa; Imperatore En'yū, 969–984
970 天禄 Tenroku
973 天延 Ten'en
976 貞元 Jōgen o Teigen
978 天元 Tengen
983 永観 Eikan o Yōkan; Imperatore Kazan, 984–986
985 寛和 Kanna o Kanwa; Imperatore Ichijō, 986–1011
987 永延 Eien o Yōen
988 永祚 Eiso o Yōso
990 正暦 Shōryaku o Jōryaku or Shōreki
995 長徳 Chōtoku
999 長保 Chōhō
1004 寛弘 Kankō Imperatore Sanjō, 1011–1016
1012 長和 Chōwa Imperatore Go-Ichijō, 1016–1036
1017 寛仁 Kannin
1021 治安 Jian o Chian
1024 万寿 Manju
1028 長元 Chōgen Imperatore Go-Suzaku, 1036–1045
1037 長暦 Chōryaku o Chōreki
1040 長久 Chōkyū
1044 寛徳 Kantoku Imperatore Go-Reizei, 1045–1068
1046 永承 Eishō o Eijō o Yōjō
1053 天喜 Tengi o Tenki
1058 康平 Kōhe
1065 治暦 Jiryaku o Chiryaku
1069 延久 Enkyū Imperatore Go-Sanjō, 1068–1073
1074 承保 Jōhō o Shōhō o Shōho; Imperatore Shirakawa, 1073–1086
1077 承暦 Jōryaku o Shōryaku o Shōreki
1081 永保 Eih
1084 応徳 Ōtoku
1087 寛治 Kanji Imperatore Horikawa, 1087–1107
1094 嘉保 Kahō
1096 永長 Eichō o ōchō
1097 承徳 Jōtoku o Shōtoku
1099 康和 Kōwa
1104 長治 Chōji
1106 嘉承 Kajō o Kashō o Kasō; Imperatore Toba, 1107–1123
1108 天仁 Tennin
1110 天永 Ten'ei o Ten'yō
1113 永久 Eikyū o Yōkyū
1118 元永 Gen'en
1120 保安 Hōan Imperatore Sutoku, 1123–1142
1124 天治 Tenji o Tenchi
1126 大治 Daiji o Taiji
1131 天承 Tenshō o Tenjō
1132 長承 Chōshō o Chōjō
1135 保延 Hōen
1141 永治 Eiji
1142 康治 Kōji Imperatore Konoe, 1142–1155
1144 天養 Ten'yō o Tennyō
1145 久安 Kyūan
1151 仁平 Ninpei so Ninpyō o Ninbyō o Ninhyō o Ninhei
1154 久寿 Kyūju Imperatore Go-Shirakawa, 1155–1158
1156 保元 Hōgen o Hogen; Imperatore Nijō, 1158–1165
1159 平治 Heiji o Byōji
1160 永暦 Eiryaku o Yōryaku
1161 応保 Ōhō
1163 長寛 Chōkan
1165 永万 Eiman o Yōman; Imperatore Rokujō, 1165–1168
1166 仁安 Nin'an o Ninnan; Imperatore Takakura, 1168–1180
1169 嘉応 Kaō
1171 承安 Jōan o Shōan
1175 安元 Angen
1177 治承 Jishō o Jijō o Chishō; Imperatore Antoku, 1180–1185
1181 養和 Yōwa
1182 寿永 Juei Imperatorer Go-Toba, 1183–1198
1184 元暦 Genryaki
1185 文治 Bunji o Monchi
1190 建久 Kenkyū Imperatore Tsuchimikado, 1198–1210
KAMAKURA PERIOD (1192-1333)
1199 正治 Shōji
1201 建仁 Kennin
1204 元久 Genkyū
1206 建永 Ken'ei also Ken'yō
1207 承元 Jōgen o Shōgen; Imperatore Juntoku, 1210–1221
1211 建暦 Kenryaku
1213 建保 Kenpō o Kenhō
1219 承久 Jōkyū o Shōkyū; Imperatore Chūkyō, 1221 Imperatore Go-Horikawa, 1221–1232
1222 貞応 Jōō o Teiō
1224 元仁 Gennin
1225 嘉禄 Karoku
1227 安貞 Antei o Anjō
1229 寛喜 Kangi o Kanki
1232 貞永 Jōei o Teiei; Imperatore Shijō, 1232–1242
1233 天福 Tenpuku o Tenfuku
1234 文暦 Bunryaku o Monryaku o Monreki
1235 嘉禎 Katei
1238 暦仁 Ryakunin o Rekinin
1239 延応 En'ō o Ennō
1240 仁治 Ninji o Ninchi; Imperatore Go-Saga, 1242–1246
1243 寛元 Kangen Imperatore Go-Fukakusa, 1246–1260
1247 宝治 Hōji
1249 建長 Kenchō
1256 康元 Kōgen Imperatore Kameyama, 1260–1274
1257 正嘉 Shōka
1259 正元 Shōgen
1260 文応 Bun'ō o Bunnō
1261 弘長 Kōchō
1264 文永 Bun'ei Imperatore Go-Uda, 1274–1287
1275 建治 Kenji
1278 弘安 Kōan Imperatore Fushimi, 1287–1298.[59]
1288 正応 Shōō
1293 永仁 Einin Imperatore Go-Fushimi, 1298–1301
1299 正安 Shōan Imperatore Go-Nijō, 1301–1308
1302 乾元 Kengen
1303 嘉元 Kagen
1306 徳治 Tokuji
1308 延慶 Enkyō o Engyō o Enkei; Imperatore Hanazono, 1308–1318
1311 応長 Ōchō
1312 正和 Shōwa
1317 文保 Bunpō o Bunhō Imperatore Go-Daigo, 1318–1339
1319 元応 Gen'ō o Gennō
1321 元亨 Genkō
1324 正中 Shōchū
1326 嘉暦 Karyaku
1329 元徳 Gentoku
1331 元弘 Genkō
NANBOKU-CHO PERIOD (1334-1392)
The North Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji, was headquartered in Kyoto and was supported by Ashikaga's Bakufu while the South Court was founded by the Emperor Go-Daigo and was headquartered in Yoshino near Nara.
Nanboku-chō Southern Court
1334 建武 Kenmu o 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 Genchū 9 becames Meitoku 3 in post Nanboku-chō reunification
Nanboku-chō Northern Court
1332 正慶 Shōkei o Shōkyō
1334 建武 Kenmu o Kenbu
1338 暦応 Ryakuō o Rekiō
1342 康永 Kōei
1345 貞和 Jōwa o Teiwa
1350 観応 Kannō o Kan'ō
1352 文和 Bunna o Bunwa
1356 延文 Enbun
1361 康安 Kōan
1362 貞治 Jōji o 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 o Kakyō
1390 明徳 Meitoku Meitoku 3 becames Genchū 9 in post-Nanboku-chō riunification
MUROMACHI PERIOD (1392-1573)
1394 応永 Ōei Imperatore Shōkō, 1412–1428
1428 正長 Shōchō Imperatore Go-Hanazono, 1428–1464
1429 永享 Eikyō o Eikō
1441 嘉吉 Kakitsu o Kakichi
1444 文安 Bun'an o Bunnan
1449 宝徳 Hōtoku
1452 享徳 Kyōtoku
1455 康正 Kōshō
1457 長禄 Chōroku
1460 寛正 Kanshō Imperatore Go-Tsuchimikado, 1464–1500
1466 文正 Bunshō o Monshō 1467 応仁 Ōnin
1469 文明 Bunmei
1487 長享 Chōkyō
1489 延徳 Entoku
1492 明応 Meiō Imperatore Go-Kashiwabara, 1500–1526
1501 文亀 Bunki
1504 永正 Eishō
1521 大永 Daiei Imperatore Go-Nara, 1526–1557
1528 享禄 Kyōroku
1532 天文 Tenbun o Tenmon
1555 弘治 Kōji Imperatore Ōgimachi, 1557–1586
1558 永禄 Eiroku
1570 元亀 Genki
AZUCHI-MOMOYAMA PERIOD (1573-1603)
1573 天正 Tenshō Imperatore Go-Yōzei, 1586–1611
1592 文禄 Bunroku
1596 慶長 Keichō o Kyōchō; Imperatore Go-Mizunoo, 1611–1629
EDO PERIOD (1603-1867)
1615 元和 Genna o Genwa
1624 寛永 Kan'ei Imperatore Meishō, 1629–1643 Imperatore Go-Kōmyō, 1643–1654
1644 正保 Shōhō
1648 慶安 Keian o Kyōan
1652 承応 Jōō o Shōō; Imperatore Go-Sai, 1655–1663
1655 明暦 Meireki o Myōryaku o Meiryaku
1658 万治 Manji
1661 寛文 Kanbun Imperatore Reigen, 1663–1687
1673 延宝 Enpō o Enhō
1681 天和 Tenna o Tenwa
1684 貞享 Jōkyō Imperatore Higashiyama, 1687–1709
1688 元禄 Genroku
1704 宝永 Hōei Imperatore Nakamikado, 1709–1735
1711 正徳 Shōtoku
1716 享保 Kyōhō Imperatore Sakuramachi, 1735–1747
1736 元文 Genbun
1741 寛保 Kanpō o Kanhō
1744 延享 Enkyō Imperatore Momozono, 1747–1762
1748 寛延 Kan'en
1751 宝暦 Hōreki o Hōryaku; Imperatore Go-Sakuramachi, 1762–1771
1764 明和 Meiwa Imperatore Go-Momozono, 1771–1779
1772 安永 An'ei Imperatore Kōkaku, 1780–1817
1781 天明 Tenmei
1789 寛政 Kansei
1801 享和 Kyōwa
1804 文化 Bunka Imperatore Ninkō, 1817–1846
1818 文政 Bunsei
1830 天保 Tenpō o Tenhō
1844 弘化 Kōka Imperatore Kōmei, 1846–1867.
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
1615 元和 Genna o Genwa
1624 寛永 Kan'ei Imperatore Meishō, 1629–1643 Imperatore Go-Kōmyō, 1643–1654
1644 正保 Shōhō
1648 慶安 Keian o Kyōan
1652 承応 Jōō o Shōō; Imperatore Go-Sai, 1655–1663
1655 明暦 Meireki o Myōryaku o Meiryaku 1658 万治 Manji
1661 寛文 Kanbun Imperatore Reigen, 1663–1687
1673 延宝 Enpō o Enhō 1681 天和 Tenna o Tenwa
1684 貞享 Jōkyō Imperatore Higashiyama, 1687–1709
1688 元禄 Genroku
1704 宝永 Hōei Imperatore Nakamikado, 1709–1735
1711 正徳 Shōtoku
1716 享保 Kyōhō Imperatore Sakuramachi, 1735–1747
1736 元文 Genbun
1741 寛保 Kanpō o Kanhō
1744 延享 Enkyō Imperatore Momozono, 1747–1762
1748 寛延 Kan'en
1751 宝暦 Hōreki o Hōryaku; Imperatore Go-Sakuramachi, 1762–1771
1764 明和 Meiwa Imperatore Go-Momozono, 1771–1779
1772 安永 An'ei Imperatore Kōkaku, 1780–1817
1781 天明 Tenmei
1789 寛政 Kansei
1801 享和 Kyōwa
1804 文化 Bunka Imperatore Ninkō, 1817–1846
1818 文政 Bunsei
1830 天保 Tenpō o Tenhō
1844 弘化 Kōka Imperatore Kōmei, 1846–1867.
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
MODERN PERIOD (1868- to today)
1868 明治 Meiji Imperatore Meiji, 1868–1912.
1912 大正 Taishō Imperatore Taishō, 1912–1926.
1926 昭和 Shōwa Imperatore Shōwa, 1926–1989.
1989 平成 Heisei Akihito, 1989–ad oggi [imperatore regnante].