Jōwa (Heian period) facts for kids

Jōwa (pronounced Joe-wah) was a special way of counting years in ancient Japan. It's like how we have "years" today, but they used different names for periods of time. This period was called a nengō (nen-goh).

The Jōwa era came after the Tenchō era and before the Kashō era. It started in January 834 and ended in July 848. During this time, two emperors ruled Japan: Emperor Junna and Emperor Ninmyō.

What Happened During the Jōwa Era?

In Jōwa 1, a cherry tree was planted in the main courtyard of the Heian Palace

There were some changes when Emperor Junna decided to step down from his role as emperor. This event was sometimes called Jōwa no Hen.

• 834 (Jōwa 1): Emperor Ninmyō planted a new cherry tree. He placed it near the main hall of the Heian Palace. This new tree replaced one that Emperor Kammu had planted. That first tree was planted when the capital city moved to Heian-kyō (which is now Kyoto).

• 834 (Jōwa 1): A famous Buddhist monk named Kūkai was given permission. He could build a special Buddhist chapel right inside the Imperial Palace.

• 11 June 840 (Jōwa 7): Former-Emperor Junna passed away. He was 55 years old when he died.

• 841 (Jōwa 8): People saw a "broom star" in the western sky. A broom star is another name for a comet.

• 24 August 842 (Jōwa 9): Former-Emperor Saga died. He was 57 years old.

• 843 (Jōwa 10): A big history book was finished. This book was called the Nihon kōki. It recorded important events from Japan's past.

Special coins were made during this time. They were minted from 835 to 847. These coins were known as Jōwa-shōhō.

Jōwa Era Years

Related Pages

• Heian period

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

See also

In Spanish: Jōwa (período Heian) para niños