Jōei facts for kids
Jōei (貞永) was a special way to count years in Japan, like how we use "AD" or "CE" today. It's called a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name"). The Jōei era came after an era called Kangi and before an era called Tenpuku.
This short period lasted from April 1232 to April 1233. During this time, two emperors ruled Japan: Go-Horikawa-tennō (後堀河天皇) and, after him, Shijō-tennō (四条天皇).
What Happened During the Jōei Era?
The Jōei era was a very short time, but a few important things happened.
Key Events of Jōei 1 (1232)
- 1232 (Jōei 1, 2nd month): A powerful person named Kujō Yoritsune received a higher rank in the emperor's court. This meant he gained more importance and influence in the government.
- 1232 (Jōei 1, 11th month): Emperor Go-Horikawa decided to step down from his role as emperor. This is called abdication. His oldest son then took over as the new emperor. This process of taking over the throne is known as senso.
- Soon after, the new emperor's role was officially confirmed in a special ceremony. This confirmation is called sokui. The new emperor was Emperor Shijō.
Learning More About This Time
The Jōei era was part of a larger period in Japanese history called the Kamakura period. This was a time when military leaders, called shoguns, held a lot of power in Japan.
If you want to learn more about how Japan counted its years, you can check out "The Japanese Calendar" from the National Diet Library. It has a lot of interesting history and pictures: The Japanese Calendar.
