Hakuchi (era)

Hakuchi (白雉) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after the Taika era and before Shuchō in 686. This period started in February 650 and ended in December 654.^[1] The reigning emperor was Kōtoku-tennō (孝徳天皇).^[2]

History

In 650 (Taika 6,^[3] The daimyo of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. It was considered to be a good omen, and the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant").^[4]

In Japan, this was the second nengō,^[1] which was developed from the Chinese system of eras (nianhao).^[5] It became an example of growth in political power.^[6]

Timeline

Timelines of early Japanese nengō and Imperial reign dates

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the Hakuchi era

650 (Hakuchi 1): Kōtoku commanded that all prisoners were to be granted liberty throughout the country.^[4]
654 (Hakuchi 5, 1st month): A great number of rats moved into Yamato Province; and this was construed as a sign that the capital should be moved.^[3]
654 (Hakuchi 5): Kōtoku died at the age of 59 after a reign of 5 years during Taika and 5 years during Hakuchi.^[7]

Related pages

Asuka period

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hakuchi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 280.
↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 47-50.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Brown, Delmer et al.. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 267.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Titsingh, p. 49.
↑ Nussbaum, "Taika" at p. 924.
↑ Bialock, David T. (2007). Eccentric Spaces, Hidden Histories: Narrative, Ritual, and Royal Authority from the Chronicles of Japan to the Tale of the Heike, pp. 56-57; excerpt at p. 57, "Whether the era name of Taika and Hakuchi are viewed as evidence of an actual precedent set by Kōtoku or as the work of chroniclers belonging to a later reign around the time of Nihon Shoki 's editing, the practice of assigning era names inaugurated a new phase in the consolidation of the court's expanding political power."
↑ Titsingh, p. 50; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 133; Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 孝徳天皇 (36); retrieved 2012-6-13.

Other websites

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

Hakuchi	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Gregorian	650	651	652	653	654

Preceded by:
Taika

Era or nengō:
Hakuchi

Succeeded by:
——

Preceded by:
——

Imperial reign:
Kōtoku period
645—654

Succeeded by:
Saimei period
655—661

This short article about Japan can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.

[nussbaum280-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hakuchi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 280.

[t47-50-2] Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 47-50.

[brown267-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Brown, Delmer et al.. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 267.

[titsingh49-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Titsingh, p. 49.

[5] Nussbaum, "Taika" at p. 924.

[6] Bialock, David T. (2007). Eccentric Spaces, Hidden Histories: Narrative, Ritual, and Royal Authority from the Chronicles of Japan to the Tale of the Heike, pp. 56-57; excerpt at p. 57, "Whether the era name of Taika and Hakuchi are viewed as evidence of an actual precedent set by Kōtoku or as the work of chroniclers belonging to a later reign around the time of Nihon Shoki 's editing, the practice of assigning era names inaugurated a new phase in the consolidation of the court's expanding political power."

[7] Titsingh, p. 50; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 133; Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 孝徳天皇 (36); retrieved 2012-6-13.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]