Genroku facts for kids

Genroku (元禄) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") that came after Jōkyō and before Hōei. This important time period started in September 1688 and ended in March 1704. During these years, the emperor of Japan was Higashiyama-tennō (東山天皇).

Map of Kyoto, a major city in Japan, as it looked during the Genroku era.

The years of Genroku are often called the Golden Age of the Edo period. This was a time of great peace and quiet for Japan, which helped the economy grow strong and led to amazing cultural developments.

The nengō (era name) Genroku means "Origin of Good Fortune."

What Happened During the Genroku Era?

Key Moments in Japanese History

In the 16th day of Genroku, Ōishi Yoshio ended his life as part of a traditional ceremony.

Many important things happened during the Genroku era:

• 1688 (Genroku 1): The Tokugawa shogunate (Japan's military government) created new rules for funerals and mourning.
• September 16, 1689 (Genroku 2): A European traveler named Engelbert Kaempfer arrived at Dejima, a special trading post in Japan.
• 1693 (Genroku 6): Arai Hakuseki, a very smart scholar, became the teacher for Tokugawa Ienobu, who would later become a powerful leader.
• 1693 (Genroku 6): The rules for funerals and mourning were updated.
• 1695 (Genroku 8): The government started putting a special Japanese character, gen (元), on copper coins.
• December 4, 1696: Former-Empress Meishō passed away at 74 years old.
• 1697 (Genroku 10): The fourth official map of Japan was created, showing how the country looked.
• 1697 (Genroku 10): A huge fire broke out in Edo (which is now Tokyo).
• 1698 (Genroku 11): Another big fire happened in Edo.
• 1703 (Genroku 16): Ōishi Yoshio, a famous samurai, ended his life in a traditional ceremony.
• December 31, 1703 (Genroku 16): The Great Genroku Earthquake shook Edo. This powerful earthquake caused fires to spread through the city, and a giant wave (tsunami) hit the coast of Honshū island.

Related Pages

• Edo period

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- learn more about Japan's historical calendar

Images for kids

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  A stone monument shaped like a turtle for Ikeda Mitsunaka, a ruler from the Tottori area, made in Genroku 6.

See also

In Spanish: Genroku para niños