Enbun facts for kids

Enbun (also called Embun) was a special way of naming years in Japan. It was used by the Northern Court during a time called the Nanboku-chō period. This era came after Bunna and before Kōan.

The Enbun period lasted from March 1356 to March 1361. During this time, Emperor Go-Kōgon was the ruler in Kyoto. But there was also another emperor, Emperor Go-Murakami, who was his rival in Yoshino. This was a time when Japan had two different imperial courts.

Important Events of the Enbun Era

1356: New Roles in the Court

• In 1356 (the first year of Enbun), a person named Minamoto no Michisuke was given an important job. He became the naidaijin, which was a high position in the Imperial court.
• Also in 1356, Ashikaga Yoshinori moved up in rank. He reached the second rank of the third class in the Imperial court's system.

1357: Emperors Return Home

• In 1357 (the second year of Enbun), Emperor Go-Murakami released three former emperors. These were Emperor Kōgon, Emperor Kōmyō, and Emperor Sukō. They had been held captive, but they were allowed to return to Kyoto.

1358: A New Shogun

• In 1358 (the third year of Enbun), Ashikaga Takauji passed away. He was a very powerful leader. After his death, Ashikaga Yoshiakira took his place. Yoshiakira was appointed as the new shogun, a top military ruler in Japan.

Related pages

• Muromachi period

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