Genkō (era) facts for kids

Genkō (元弘) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name) of the Southern Court during the pre-Nanboku-chō period after Gentoku and before Kemmu. This period started in August 1331 and ended in January 1334.

The pretender in Kyoto was Emperor Kōgon (光厳天皇, Kōgon-tennō). Kōgon's Southern Court rival in Yoshino during this time was Emperor Go-Daigo (後醍醐天皇, Go-Diago-tennō).

Events of the Genkō Era

• 1331-1333: The Genkō War (元弘の乱, Genkō no Ran) lasted the entire length of the era. It marked the fall of the Kamakura Shogunate and led to the Kemmu Restoration.
• 1333 (Genkō 3): Nitta Yoshisada ended the Kamakura shogunate in the Siege of Kamakura (鎌倉の戦い).

The oldest extant account of Buddhism in Japan, the Genko Shakusho (元亨釈書), was completed in the Genko era. The writing project was the work of Kokan Shiren.

Related pages

• Kamakura period

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