Genroku

Genroku (元禄) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Jōkyō and before Hōei. This period started in September 1688 and ended in March 1704.[1] During this time, the emperor was Higashiyama-tennō (東山天皇).[2]

Map of Kyoto published in the Genroku era.

The years of Genroku are generally considered to be the Golden Age of the Edo period. A century of peace and seclusion created good economic conditions[1] and cultural growth.[1]

The nengō Genroku means "Origin of Good Fortune"[3]

Events of the Genroku era

In the 16th day of Genroku, Ōishi Yoshio killed himself in a public ceremony.
  • 1688 (Genroku 1): Tokugawa shogunate published a code of conduct for funerals (Fuku-kiju-ryō) and for mourning.[4]
  • 16 September 1689 (Genroku 2, 3rd day of the 7th month): Engelbert Kaempfer arrived at Dejima.[5]
  • 1693 (Genroku 6, 12th month): Arai Hakuseki became the tutor of Tokugawa Ienobu.
  • 1693 (Genroku 6): The code of conduct for funerals and mourning was changed.[6]
  • 1695 (Genroku 8, 8th month): The shogunate placed the Japanese character gen (元) on copper coins.[7]
  • 4 December 1696: Former-Empress Meishō died at age 74.[8]
  • 1697 (Genroku 10): The 4th official map of Japan was made.[9]
  • 1697 (Genroku 10): Great fire in Edo.[7]
  • 1698 (Genroku 11): Another great fire in Edo.[7]
  • 1703 (Genroku 16, 3rd month): Ōishi Yoshio commits seppuku.[10]
  • 1703 (Genroku 16, 5th month): First performance of Chikamatsu Monzaemon's play The Love Suicides at Sonezaki (Sonezaki shinjū).[11]
  • 31 December 1703 (Genroku 16, 23rd day of the 11th month): The Great Genroku Earthquake shook Edo.[12] Fire spread in the city.[7] The coast of Honshū was hit by tsunami.[12]

References

  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  2. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 310. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  3. Jenkins, Donald. (1971). Ukiyo-e Prints and Paintings: the Primitive Period, 1680-1745, p. 21.
  4. Smith, Robert et al. (2004). Japanese Culture: Its Development And Characteristics, p. 28.
  5. Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822, p. 73.
  6. Smith, p. 28.
  7. Klaproth, Julius von (1834). Nipon o dai itsi ran: ou Annales des empereurs du Japon. Oriental Translation Fund. p. 415.
  8. Meyer, Eva-Maria (1999). Japans Kaiserhof in der Edo-Zeit: unter besonderer Berucksichtigung der Jahre 1846 bis 1867. Lit. p. 186. ISBN 978-3-8258-3939-0.
  9. Traganeou, Jilly. (2004). The Tokaido Road: Traveling and Representation in Edo and Meiji Japan, p. 230.
  10. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 742. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  11. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2002). Japan Encyclopedia. Harvard University Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5.
  12. Hammer, Joshua (2006). Yokohama Burning: The Deadly 1923 Earthquake and Fire that Helped Forge the Path to World War II. Simon and Schuster. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-7432-6465-5.

Other websites

Genroku1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th15th16th17th
16881689169016911692169316941695169616971698169917001701170217031704
Preceded by:
Jōkyō
Era or nengō:
Genroku
Succeeded by:
Hōei
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