Kokoku
Encyclopedia
Kōkoku was a Japanese era
of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts
after Engen
and before Shōhei
, lasting from April 1340 to December 1346. The emperor in Kyoto was . Go-Kōgon's Southern Court
rival in Yoshino during this time-frame was .
, 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 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 had been established in Kyoto
by Ashikaga Takauji
.
Japanese era name
The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the and the year number within the era...
of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
after Engen
Engen
Engen was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kemmu and before Kōkoku, lasting from February 1336 to April 1340...
and before Shōhei
Shohei
was a Japanese era name of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kōkoku and before Kentoku. This period spanned the years from December 1346 to July 1370. The Southern Court emperors in Yoshino were and...
, lasting from April 1340 to December 1346. The emperor in Kyoto was . Go-Kōgon's Southern Court
Southern Court
The were a set of four emperors whose legitimate claims were usurped during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392. In spite of the legitimacy of its claims to the throne, the Southern Court was permanently replaced in 1392 by the illegitimate Northern Court.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
rival in Yoshino during this time-frame was .
Nanboku-chō overview
During the Meiji periodMeiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
through Emperor Go-Murakami
Emperor Go-Murakami
was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339 until March 29, 1368 . His personal name was...
, whose had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.
Until the end of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the Imperial Regalia
Imperial Regalia of Japan
The , also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, consist of the sword Kusanagi , the mirror Yata no Kagami , and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama...
were not in their possession.
This illegitimate had been established in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
by Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
.
Change of era
- Northern Court Equivalents: RyakuōRyakuowas a Japanese era of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts, lasting from August 1338 to April 1342. The emperor in Kyoto was...
; KōeiKoei (era)was a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Ryakuō and before Jōwa. This period spanned the years from April 1342 to October 1345. The emperor in Kyoto was...
; Jōwa
Events of the Kōkoku Era
- 1342 (Kōtoku 3): Ichijō TsunemichiIchijo Tsunemichi, son of regent Uchitsune, was a kugyō or Japanese court noble of the Muromachi period . He held a regent position kampaku from 1338 to 1342. Tsunetsugu was his adopted son.-References:...
loses his position as kampaku; and he is replaced by Kujō MichinoriKujo Michinori, son of Moronori and adopted son of Fusazane, was a kugyō or Japanese court noble of the Kamakura period . He held a regent position kampaku in 1342. Tsunenori was his son.-References:...
. - 1342 (Kōtoku 3): is removed from his position as daijō daijin.
- 1342 (Kōtoku 3): Kujō Michinori is replaced by Takatsukasa MorohiraTakatsukasa Morohira, son of Fuyuhira, was kugyo or highest-ranking Japanese court noble of the Muromachi period . Fuyunori adopted him as a son.Morohira held the office of kampaku from 1342 to 1346....
, who was formerly udaijinUdaijinUdaijin , most commonly translated as the "Minister of the Right", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Udaijin in the context of a central...
. - 1342 (Kōtoku 3): Fujiwara no Kiyoko dies. She was the daughter of Usesugi Yorishige and the mother of Ashikaga TakaujiAshikaga Takaujiwas the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
. - 1343 (Kōtoku 4): Nijō YoshimotoNijo Yoshimoto, son of regent Nijō Michihira, was a Japanese kugyō , waka poet and renga master of the early Muromachi period .Yoshimoto's wife gave birth to Nijō Moroyoshi...
, the author of MasukagamiMasukagamiis a Japanese historical tale written in the early Muromachi period believed to be between 1368 to 1376. The author is not known but is believed to be Nijō Yoshimoto. It is the last of four works of mirror series and follow most recent events....
, was promoted from the court position of nadaijin to udaijin; and in due course, the udaijin was promoted to sadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
. The dainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
was promoted to nadaijin. - 1344 (Kōtoku 4): Shogun Takauji offered prayers at Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū.
External links
- National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
| Kōkoku | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
| Gregorian Gregorian calendar The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter... |
1340 | 1341 | 1342 | 1343 | 1344 | 1345 | 1346 |