Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Bunchū

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645–650
  
Taika

686–686
  
Shuchō

704–708
  
Keiun

650–654
  
Hakuchi

701–704
  
Taihō

708–715
  
Wadō

Bunchū

Bunchū (文中) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name) of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kentoku and before Tenju. This period spanned the years from October 1372 to May 1375. The Southern Court emperor in Yoshino during this time-frame was Emperor Chōkei (長慶天皇, Chōkei-tennō). The Northern court emperor in Kyoto was Emperor Go-En'yū (後円融天皇, Go-En'yū-tennō).

Contents

Nanboku-chō overview

During the Meiji period, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo through Emperor Go-Murakami, whose Southern Court (南朝, nanchō) had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.

Until the end of the Edo period, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the Imperial Regalia were not in their possession.

This illegitimate Northern Court (北朝, hokuchō) had been established in Kyoto by Ashikaga Takauji.

Change of era

  • 1372, also called Bunchū gannen (文中元年): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Kentoku 3.
  • In this time frame, Ōan (1368–1375) was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.

    Events of the Bunchū Era

  • 1372 (Bunchū 1): Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu establishes an annual revenue for Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū.
  • 1373-1406 (Bunchū 2Ōei 13): Embassies between China and Japan.
  • 1374 (Bunchū 3): The former Emperor Go-Kōgon died at age 73,
  • 1374 (Bunchū 3): Emperor Go-En'yū ascends northern throne.
  • References

    Bunchū Wikipedia