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Hōgen (era) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hōgen was a special time period in Japanese history, like how we have years today. It came after the Kyūju period and before the Heiji period. This era lasted from April 1156 to April 1159. During this time, two emperors ruled: Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Emperor Nijō.

Important Events of the Hōgen Era

The Death of Former Emperor Toba

On July 20, 1156, former Emperor Toba passed away. He was 54 years old. A "former emperor" is someone who used to be the emperor but has since stepped down from the throne.

The Hōgen Rebellion

From July 28 to August 16, 1156, a big conflict happened. This event is known as the Hōgen Rebellion. It is also called the Hōgen Insurrection or the Hōgen War. This was a major fight between different groups in Japan.

New Government Office

In 1156, a special building was built in Kyoto. This building was used to receive and review requests and complaints from the people. It was similar to how things were done during the time of Emperor Go-Sanjō.

Rebuilding the Palace

In 1157, work began on a grand audience hall inside the palace. This hall was called a dairi. There hadn't been a building like this in the palace since the time of Emperor Shirakawa.

Emperor Go-Shirakawa Steps Down

On August 6, 1158, Emperor Go-Shirakawa decided to step down from his role. This is called abdicating. His oldest son then took over as the new ruler.

Emperor Nijō Takes the Throne

Later in 1158, Emperor Nijō officially became the monarch. This means he was formally established as the new emperor.

The Tale of Hōgen

The Tale of Hōgen is a famous story about this time period. It tells about the brave samurai warriors who fought in the Hōgen Rebellion. This tale is one of three important war stories from Japan. The other two are the Tale of Heiji and the Tale of Heike. Together, these stories describe the rise and fall of two powerful families: the Minamoto clan and the Taira clan.

Related Pages

  • National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
Preceded by:
Kyūju		 Era or nengō:
Hōgen		 Succeeded by:
Heiji
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