Jiryaku facts for kids

Jiryaku (治暦) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, meaning "year name") in Japan. It came after the Kōhei era and before the Enkyū era. This special time period began in August 1065 and ended in April 1069. During these years, two emperors ruled: Go-Reizei-tennō (後冷泉天皇) and Go-Sanjō-tennō (後三条天皇).

What Was the Jiryaku Era?

In ancient Japan, instead of just using numbers for years (like 2024), they also gave special names to periods of time. These were called nengō, or era names. The Jiryaku era was one of these periods. It lasted for about four years, from 1065 to 1069.

Important Events During Jiryaku

This era saw some notable happenings in Japan.

The Year 1066: A Comet Appears

• 3 April 1066 (Jiryaku 2, 6th day of the 3rd month): Early in the morning, a bright comet appeared in the eastern sky. People sometimes called these comets "broom stars" because their tails looked like a broom.

Rebuilding the Coronation Hall

• 1068 (Jiryaku 4, 14th day of the 8th month): Work began to rebuild an important building called the Coronation Hall. This hall had been damaged by a fire. Ceremonies were held to mark the start of this big construction project.

A New Emperor: Go-Sanjō Takes the Throne

• 1068 (Jiryaku 4, 19th day of the 4th month): Emperor Go-Reizei passed away at the age of 44. After his death, his son, Go-Sanjō, became the new emperor. The process of taking over the throne was called senso. Soon after, Go-Sanjō officially accepted his role and duties as the ruler, which was known as sokui. Special ceremonies confirmed his new position as emperor.

Jiryaku Era Years

Here is a quick look at the years covered by the Jiryaku era:

Explore More

• Heian period: Learn more about the long period in Japanese history when the Jiryaku era took place.

• You can find more information about the Japanese calendar and its history online at the National Diet Library: The Japanese Calendar.