Engen facts for kids
Engen (延元) was a special name for a period of time in Japan. It was like how we use "years" today, but in old Japan, they also had "era names." Engen was used by the Southern Court during a time called the Nanboku-chō period. This was a time when Japan had two different imperial courts.
The Engen era started in February 1336 and lasted until April 1340. During this time, the emperors of the Southern Court were Emperor Go-Daigo and Emperor Go-Murakami. In the city of Kyoto, the Northern Court had its own emperor, Emperor Kōmyō.
Contents
Key Events During the Engen Era
This era saw some important moments for the Southern Court.
The Passing of Important Figures
- May 17, 1336 (Engen 1): Former-Emperor Go-Fushimi passed away. He was an important figure from an earlier time.
- September 19, 1339 (Engen 4): Emperor Go-Daigo died. He was a very important emperor who led the Southern Court. His death was a big event for the Southern Court.
Unusual Sightings
- 1340 (Engen 5): People reported seeing a "broom star." This is another name for a comet. Comets are bright objects with tails that appear in the sky.
Understanding Nengō and the Courts
In Japan, a nengō (era name) is a way to count years. Each emperor or important event could start a new era name. During the Nanboku-chō period, Japan had two imperial courts, the Southern Court and the Northern Court. This meant they sometimes used different era names at the same time.
Northern Court Era Names
While the Southern Court used Engen, the Northern Court used these era names:
Related Pages
- Muromachi period
- National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
How Engen Fits In
The Engen era was an important part of the Southern Court's history. It came after the Kemmu era and was followed by the Kōkoku era.
