Genroku facts for kids

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

Map of Kyoto published in the Genroku era.

The years of Genroku are generally considered to be the Golden Age of the Edo period. A century of peace and seclusion created good economic conditions and cultural growth.

The nengō Genroku means "Origin of Good Fortune"

Events of the Genroku era

In the 16th day of Genroku, Ōishi Yoshio killed himself in a public ceremony.

• 1688 (Genroku 1): Tokugawa shogunate published a code of conduct for funerals (Fuku-kiju-ryō) and for mourning.
• 16 September 1689 (Genroku 2, 3rd day of the 7th month): Engelbert Kaempfer arrived at Dejima.
• 1693 (Genroku 6, 12th month): Arai Hakuseki became the tutor of Tokugawa Ienobu.
• 1693 (Genroku 6): The code of conduct for funerals and mourning was changed.
• 1695 (Genroku 8, 8th month): The shogunate placed the Japanese character gen (元) on copper coins.
• 4 December 1696: Former-Empress Meishō died at age 74.
• 1697 (Genroku 10): The 4th official map of Japan was made.
• 1697 (Genroku 10): Great fire in Edo.
• 1698 (Genroku 11): Another great fire in Edo.
• 1703 (Genroku 16, 3rd month): Ōishi Yoshio commits seppuku.
• 31 December 1703 (Genroku 16, 23rd day of the 11th month): The Great Genroku Earthquake shook Edo. Fire spread in the city. The coast of Honshū was hit by tsunami.

Related pages

• Edo period

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

Images for kids

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  A turtle-based stele of Ikeda Mitsunaka, a Tottori Domain ruler, dated Genroku 6

See also

In Spanish: Genroku para niños