Japanese calendar
Japanese calendar types have included several of official and unofficial systems. At present, Japan uses the Gregorian calendar and also the Japanese era name system.[1]
Jōkyō calendar published in 1729. Exhibit in the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan.
History
Japan has more than one traditional system for counting years,[2] including
- The Chinese calendar (sexagenary cycle)[3]
- The Japanese Imperial year (皇紀, kōki) or "National calendar year" based on the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC.[4]
- The Japanese era name (年号, nengō) based on the reign of the current emperor[5]
Since the Meiji period, Japan has used the Western Common Era (Anno Domini) (西暦, seireki) system.[6]
In Japan today, the old Chinese calendar is rarely used. The system of counting years from the reign of Emperor Jimmu has been abandoned.[7]
Annual holidays in Japan's calendar
The Japanese calendar has yearly holidays and traditional events. Some of these preserve ancient customs.[9]
The names and dates of some of Japan's national holidays have changed over time.
| Date | English name | Official name | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day[10] | 元日 | Ganjitsu |
| 2nd Monday of January | Coming of Age Day[11] | 成人の日 | Seijin no hi |
| February 11[12] | National Foundation Day[10] | 建国記念の日 | Kenkoku kinen no hi |
| February 23 | The Emperor's Birthday[10] | 天皇誕生日 | Tennō tanjōbi |
| March 3 | Girls' Day[13] | 雛祭の日 | Hinamatsuri |
| March 20 or March 21 | Vernal Equinox Day[10] | 春分の日 | Shunbun no hi |
| April 29 | Shōwa Day[11] | 昭和の日 | Shōwa no hi |
| May 3 | Constitution Memorial Day[10] | 憲法記念日 | Kenpō kinenbi |
| May 4 | Greenery Day[11] | みどり(緑)の日 | Midori no hi |
| May 5 | Children's Day[10] | 子供の日 | Kodomo no hi |
| 3rd Monday of July | Marine Day[10] | 海の日 | Umi no hi |
| 3rd Monday of September | Respect for the Aged Day[10] | 敬老の日 | Keirō no hi |
| September 23 or September 24[12] | Autumnal Equinox Day[10] | 秋分の日 | Shūbun no hi |
| 2nd Monday of October | Health-Sports Day[10] | 体育の日 | Taiiku no hi |
| November 3 | Culture Day[10] | 文化の日 | Bunka no hi |
| November 23[12] | Labour Thanksgiving Day[10] | 勤労感謝の日 | Kinrō kansha no hi |
Related pages
References
- "Calendar" at Japan-guide.com; Bramsen, William. (1880). Japanese chronological tables, p. 25.
- Clement, Ernest W. (1902). "Japanese Calendars," in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, Vol. 30-31, p. 3.
- Bramsen, pp. 5-11.
- Bramsen, p. 11.
- Bramsen, pp. 2-5.
- Bramsen, p. 25.
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Calendar" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 98-99.
- Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Koi-nobori" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 544.
- Nakamura, Akemi. "National holidays trace roots to China, ancients, harvests," Archived 2012-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Japan Times. April 8, 2008; retrieved 2012-2-21.
- Brown, Ju. (2006). China, Japan, Korea: Culture and Customs, p. 68.
- InfoMapJAPAN, "Japanese National Holidays/Traditional Events" Archived 2012-01-25 at the Wayback Machine; retreieved 2012-2-21.
- "Japan," Catholic Encyclopedia (2009); retrieved 2012-2-21.
- Hinamatsuri at About.com Archived 2009-10-10 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2013-3-6.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.