Tenpyō

Tenpyō (天平), also romanized as Tempyō, was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Jinki and before Tenpyō-kanpō. This period started in August 729 and ended in April 749.^[1] The reigning emperor was Shōmu-tennō (聖武天皇).^[2]

Events of the Tenpyō era

740 (Tenpyō 12, 10th month): The forces of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu are defeated in Hizen Province on the island of Kyushu.^[3]
740 (Tenpyō 12): Japan's capital city is established in Kuni-kyō.^[4]
741 (Tenpyō 13): The Emperor establishes Buddhist temples in the provinces of Japan. Provincial monasteries were built.^[5]
743 (Tenpyō 15): The Emperor orders creation of a huge statue of the Buddha (daibutsu) which will be part of Tōdai-ji, Nara.^[6]
744 (Tenpyō 16): Naniwa-kyō became Japan's capital.^[3]
745 (Tenpyō 17): The capital returns to Heijō-kyō.^[7]
749 (Tenpyō 20, 4th month): Former-Empress Genshō died.^[8]
749 (Tenpyō 20): After a 25-year reign, Emperor Shōmu abdicated and took vows as a Buddhist priest.^[9] Shōmu's daughter receives the succession (senso). Soon after, Empress Kōken's role as monarch was confirmed (sokui).^[10]

Gallery

Ground-plan of Heijō-kyō

Related pages

Nara period

References

↑ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tempyō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 957.
↑ Nussbaum, "Shōmu Tennō," p. 884; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 67-73; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 272-273; Varley, H. Paul. Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 141-143.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Titsingh, p. 71.
↑ Titsingh, p. 71; 恭仁宮跡の発掘調査 (Excavations on the Kuni Palace site, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education) Archived 2020-11-01 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-5-4.
↑ Varley, pp. 141-142.
↑ Brown, p. 273; Varley, p. 141.
↑ Titsingh, p. 72.
↑ Titsingh, p. 71; Varley, p. 141; Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 元正天皇 (44); retrieved 2012-5-22.
↑ Varley, p. 143; Shomu was the first emperor to become a Buddhist priest; and Empress Komyo was the first empress to became a Buddhist nun.
↑ Titsingh, p. 73; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami. Compare Kunaichō, Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei); retrieved 2012-5-22.

Other websites

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

Tenpyō	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th	16th	17th	18th	19th	20th
	729	730	731	732	733	734	735	736	737	738	739	740	741	742	743	744	745	746	747	748

Tenpyō	21st
	749

Preceded by:
Jinki

Era or nengō:
Tenpyō

Succeeded by:
Tenpyō-kanpō

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[1] Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Tempyō" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 957.

[2] Nussbaum, "Shōmu Tennō," p. 884; Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 67-73; Brown, Delmer et al. (1979). Gukanshō, pp. 272-273; Varley, H. Paul. Jinnō Shōtōki, pp. 141-143.

[titsingh71-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Titsingh, p. 71.

[4] Titsingh, p. 71; 恭仁宮跡の発掘調査 (Excavations on the Kuni Palace site, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education) Archived 2020-11-01 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-5-4.

[v141-142-5] Varley, pp. 141-142.

[6] Brown, p. 273; Varley, p. 141.

[7] Titsingh, p. 72.

[8] Titsingh, p. 71; Varley, p. 141; Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 元正天皇 (44); retrieved 2012-5-22.

[9] Varley, p. 143; Shomu was the first emperor to become a Buddhist priest; and Empress Komyo was the first empress to became a Buddhist nun.

[10] Titsingh, p. 73; Varley, p. 44; a distinct act of senso is unrecognized prior to Emperor Tenji; and all sovereigns except Jitō, Yōzei, Go-Toba, and Fushimi have senso and sokui in the same year until the reign of Emperor Go-Murakami. Compare Kunaichō, Ceremony of Accession (Sokui-no-Rei); retrieved 2012-5-22.

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