Hōen facts for kids

Hōen (pronounced "Hoe-en") was a special way of naming years in ancient Japan. It's like how we have "years" today, but they used different names for periods of time. This era came after an era called Chōshō and before an era called Eiji. The Hōen period lasted from September 1135 to July 1141. During these years, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Sutoku.

What Happened During Hōen?

During the Hōen era, some interesting events took place in Japan. These events often involved important people like emperors and religious leaders.

Important Events and Dates

• 1136 (Hōen 2, 3rd month): The former-Emperor Toba held a big dinner party. Even after he stepped down as emperor, Toba was still a very powerful figure in Japan.

• 1138 (Hōen 4, 9th month): Former-Emperor Toba visited Mount Hiei. This was an important mountain with many Buddhist temples. He stayed there for seven days, which was a significant religious journey.

• 2 May 1140 (Hōen 6, 14th day of the 4th month): Something serious happened on Mount Hiei. Priests from the Buddhist temples there worked together to burn down another temple called Mii-dera. This shows there were sometimes conflicts between different religious groups in Japan during this time.

Understanding the Hōen Era

The Hōen era was part of a longer period in Japanese history called the Heian period. This was a time when emperors ruled, but powerful families and religious groups also had a lot of influence.

Years of the Hōen Era

Here's a quick look at how the Hōen era matches up with our modern calendar:

Where Hōen Fits in History

The Hōen era was one in a long list of Japanese era names. It helps historians keep track of events in a clear timeline.

Related Pages

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