Taihō (era)

History of Japan
Periods Paleolithic before 14,000 BC Jōmon 14,000 – 300 BCE Yayoi 300 BCE – 250 CE Kofun 250–538 Asuka 538–710 Nara 710–794 Heian 794–1185 Kamakura 1185–1333 Kenmu Restoration 1333–1336 Muromachi (Ashikaga) Nanboku-chō Sengoku 1336–1573 Azuchi–Momoyama Nanban trade 1568–1603 Edo (Tokugawa) Sakoku Bakumatsu 1603–1868 Meiji Restoration 1868–1912 Taishō World War I 1912–1926 Shōwa Financial crisis Militarism Pacific War Occupation Post-occupation 1926–1989 Heisei Lost Decade 1989–present
Topics Currency Earthquakes Economy Education Empire Historiography Military Naval Post-war
Glossary Timeline

Taihō (大宝) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, "year name") after a late 7th century interruption in the sequence of nengō after Shuchō and before Keiun. This period spanned the years from March 701 through May 704.^[1] The reigning emperor was Monmu-tennō (文武天皇).^[2]

History

In 701, also known as Taihō gannen (大宝元年), the new era name Taihō (meaning "Great Treasure") was proclaimed to memorialize the creation of the "great treasure" of codified organization and laws. The new era commenced on the 21st day of the 3rd month of 701.^[3]

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 Taihō era

• 701 (Taihō 1): Plans for sending a diplomatic mission to the Tang court was approved.^[4]
• 702 (Taihō 2): The Taihō Code or Code of Taihō (大宝律令, Taihō-ritsuryō) or Taihōryō reorganizing the central government and completing many of the reforms begun by the Taika Reforms in 646.^[5]
• 702 (Taihō 2): A mission to the Tang court, led by Awata no Mahito (粟田真人), embarked on their journey to China, traveling by ship.^[4] This was called the "embassy of Taihō" because it was begun during this era.^[6]

Notes

References

• Asakawa, Kan'ichi. (1903). The Early Institutional Life of Japan. Tokyo: Shueisha. OCLC 4427686; see online, multi-formatted, full-text book at openlibrary.org
• Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). Gukanshō: The Future and the Past. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-03460-0; OCLC 251325323
• Fogel, Joshua A. (2009). Articulating the Sinosphere: Sino-Japanese Relations in Space and Time. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674032590 ISBN 0674032594; OCLC 255142264
• Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1962). Sovereign and Subject. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 1014075
• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691
• Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-04940-5; OCLC 59145842

External links

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