Wado (era)
Encyclopedia
was a after Keiun
and before Reiki
. This period spanned the years from January 708 through September 715. The reigning empress was .
The Japanese word for copper is dō (銅); and since this was indigenous copper, the "wa" (the ancient Chinese term for Japan) could be combined with the "dō" (copper) to create a new composite term -- "wadō" -- meaning "Japanese copper." A mint was established in the province of Ōmi
; and the Wadō era is famous for the coin which is recognized as the first Japanese currency. -- see image of Wado Kaichin from Japan Mint Museum
After Empress Gemmei transferred the seat of her government to Nara, this mountain location remained the capital throughout the succeeding seven reigns. In a sense, the years of the Nara period
developed into one of the more significant consequences of her comparatively short reign. After reigning for eight years, Empress Gemmei abdicated in favor of her daughter.
Keiun
, also known as Kyōun, was a following Taihō and preceding Wadō. The period spanned the years from May 704 through January 708. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:...
and before Reiki
Reiki (era)
was a after Wadō and before Yōrō. This period spanned the years from September 715 through November 717. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 715 ; 715: The new era name was created to mark the beginning of the reign of Empress Genshō...
. This period spanned the years from January 708 through September 715. The reigning empress was .
Change of era
- 708 : The new era name Wadō (meaning "Japanese copper") was created because the metal was discovered in Musashi provinceMusashi Provincewas a province of Japan, which today comprises Tokyo Prefecture, most of Saitama Prefecture and part of Kanagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called . The province encompassed Kawasaki and Yokohama...
. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in the spring of Keiun 5, on the 11th day of the 1st month of 708.
The Japanese word for copper is dō (銅); and since this was indigenous copper, the "wa" (the ancient Chinese term for Japan) could be combined with the "dō" (copper) to create a new composite term -- "wadō" -- meaning "Japanese copper." A mint was established in the province of Ōmi
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
; and the Wadō era is famous for the coin which is recognized as the first Japanese currency. -- see image of Wado Kaichin from Japan Mint Museum
Events of the Wadō era
- May 5, 708 (Wadō 1, 11th day of the 4th month): A sample of the newly discovered copper from Musashi was presented in Gemmei's court where it was formally acknowledged as Japanese copper.
- 708 (Wadō 1, 3rd month): is named Udaijin (Minister of the Right). Iso-kami Marō is Sadaijin (Minister of the Left).
- 709 (Wadō 2, 3rd month): There was an uprising against governmental authority in Mutsu provinceMutsu Provincewas an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
and in Echigo provinceEchigo Provincewas an old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Today the area is part of Niigata Prefecture, which also includes the island which was the old Sado Province. This province was the northernmost part of the...
. Troops were promptly dispatched to subdue the revolt. - 709 (Wadō 2, 5th month): Ambassadors arrived from SillaSillaSilla was one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, and one of the longest sustained dynasties in...
, bringing an offer of tribute. He visited Fujiwara no FuhitoFujiwara no FuhitoFujiwara no Fuhito was a powerful member of the imperial court of Japan during the Asuka and Nara periods...
to prepare the way for further visits. - 710 (Wadō 3, 3rd month): Empress Gemmei established her official residence in NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, which was known then as Heijō-kyōHeijo-kyoHeijō-kyō , was the capital city of Japan during most of the Nara period, from 710–40 and again from 745–84. The Palace site is a listed UNESCO World Heritage together with other places in the city of Nara Heijō-kyō (平城京, also Heizei-kyō, sometimes Nara no miyako), was the capital city of Japan...
. In the last years of the Mommu's reign, the extensive preparations for this projected move had begun; but the work could not be completed before the late-emperor's untimely death. Shortly after the nengō was changed to Wadō, an imperial rescript was issued concerning the establishment of a new capital at the Heijō-kyō at Nara in Yamato provinceYamato Provincewas a province of Japan, located in Kinai, corresponding to present-day Nara Prefecture in Honshū. It was also called . At first, the name was written with one different character , and for about ten years after 737, this was revised to use more desirable characters . The final revision was made in...
. It had been customary since ancient times for the capital to be moved with the beginning of each new reign. However, Emperor MommuEmperor Mommuwas the 42nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Mommu's reign spanned the years from 697 through 707.-Traditional narrative:Before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Karu-shinnō....
decided not to move the capital, preferring instead to stay at the Fujiwara Palace which had been established by Empress JitōEmpress Jitowas the 41st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Jitō's reign spanned the years from 686 through 697.In the history of Japan, Jitō was the third of eight women to take on the role of empress regnant. The two female monarchs before Jitō were Suiko and Kōgyoku/Saimei...
. - Wadō 5, 1st month, 28th day (711): Ō no YasumaroO no Yasumarowas a Japanese nobleman, bureaucrat, and chronicler. He may have been the son of , a participant in the Jinshin War of 672.He is most famous for compiling and editing, with the assistance of Hieda no Are, the Kojiki, the oldest extant Japanese history. Empress Genmei was a Japanese nobleman,...
completes the KojikiKojikiis the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami... - 712 (Wadō 5): The Mutsu provinceMutsu Provincewas an old province of Japan in the area of Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori prefecture and the municipalities of Kazuno and Kosaka in Akita Prefecture...
was separated from Dewa provinceDewa Provinceis an old province of Japan, comprising modern-day Yamagata Prefecture and Akita Prefecture, except for the city of Kazuno and the town of Kosaka. It was sometimes called .-Historical record:...
. - 713 (Wadō 6, 3rd month): Tamba provinceTamba Provincewas an old province of Japan. The ambit of its borders encompassed both the central part of modern Kyoto Prefecture and the east-central part of Hyōgo Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Tango Province...
was separated from Tango provinceTango Provincewas an old province in the area that is today northern Kyoto Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. It was sometimes called , with Tamba Province. Tango bordered on Tajima, Tamba, and Wakasa provinces....
; Mimasaka provinceMimasaka Provinceor was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is today northeastern Okayama Prefecture. Mimasaka bordered Bitchū, Bizen, Harima, Hōki, and Inaba Provinces....
was divided from Bizen provinceBizen Provincewas a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of Honshū, in what is today the southeastern part of Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bitchu and Bingo Provinces. Bizen borders Mimasaka, Harima, and Bitchū Provinces....
; and Hyūga provinceHyuga Provincewas an old province of Japan on the east coast of Kyūshū, corresponding to the modern Miyazaki Prefecture. It was sometimes called or . Hyūga bordered on Bungo, Higo, Ōsumi, and Satsuma Province.The ancient capital was near Saito.-Historical record:...
was divided from Osumi provinceOsumi Provincewas an old province of Japan in the area that is today the eastern part of Kagoshima Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Ōsumi bordered on Hyūga and Satsuma Provinces.Osumi's ancient capital was near modern Kokubu...
. - Wadō 6, 5th month, 2nd day (713): imperial decree to compile FudokiFudokiare ancient records of the culture and geography of provinces of Japan. They contain agricultural, geographical, historical and mythological records, as well as folklore.Compilation of Fudoki began in 713 and was completed over a 20-year period....
- 713 (Wadō 6): The road which traverses Mino provinceMino Province, one of the old provinces of Japan, encompassed part of modern-day Gifu Prefecture. It was sometimes called . Mino Province bordered Echizen, Hida, Ise, Mikawa, Ōmi, Owari, and Shinano Provinces....
and Shinano provinceShinano Provinceor is an old province of Japan that is now present day Nagano Prefecture.Shinano bordered on Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces...
was widened to accommodate travelers; and the road was widened in the Kiso District of modern Nagano Prefecture.
After Empress Gemmei transferred the seat of her government to Nara, this mountain location remained the capital throughout the succeeding seven reigns. In a sense, the years of the Nara period
Nara period
The of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794. Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō . Except for 5 years , when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784...
developed into one of the more significant consequences of her comparatively short reign. After reigning for eight years, Empress Gemmei abdicated in favor of her daughter.
External links
- National Diet LibraryNational Diet LibraryThe is the only national library in Japan. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the in researching matters of public policy. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the U.S...
, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
| Wadō | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| 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... |
708 708 Year 708 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 708 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* Byzantine Empire: March – The Umayyads... |
709 709 Year 709 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 709 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Saelred becomes king of Essex.* Ceolred... |
710 710 Year 710 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 710 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Asuka period, the second and last part... |
711 711 Year 711 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 711 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* April 30 – Ummayad troops led by... |
712 712 Year 712 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 712 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ansprand succeeds Aripert as king of the... |
713 713 Year 713 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 713 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is... |
714 714 Year 714 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 714 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* February 28 – An earthquake strikes... |
715 715 Year 715 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 715 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* September 26 – Battle of Compiègne:... |
Preceded by: Keiun Keiun , also known as Kyōun, was a following Taihō and preceding Wadō. The period spanned the years from May 704 through January 708. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:... |
Era or nengō 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... : Wadō |
Succeeded by: Reiki Reiki (era) was a after Wadō and before Yōrō. This period spanned the years from September 715 through November 717. The reigning empress was .-Change of era:* 715 ; 715: The new era name was created to mark the beginning of the reign of Empress Genshō... |