Kōryaku facts for kids

Kōryaku (康暦) was a special name for a period of time in Japan. It was like a "year name" (called nengō) used by the Northern Court during a time in Japanese history known as the Nanboku-chō period. This period came after the Eiwa era and before the Eitoku era.

The Kōryaku era began in March 1379 and ended in February 1381. During this time, the emperor in Kyoto was Emperor Go-En'yū. He was considered the "pretender" emperor by the Northern Court. His rival, Emperor Chōkei, was the emperor of the Southern Court in Yoshino.

What Happened During Kōryaku?

Important Events (1379-1381)

• 1379 (Kōryaku 2): A powerful leader named Shiba Yoshimasa became the Kanrei. This was a very important job, like being a top advisor or a prime minister for the shogun.
• 1380 (Kōryaku 3): Kusunoki Masanori, a famous samurai, rejoined the side of Emperor Go-Kameyama. This was significant because it showed shifts in loyalty during the ongoing conflict between the Northern and Southern Courts.
• July 26, 1380 (Kōryaku 2, 24th day of the 6th month): The former emperor, Emperor Kōmyō, who was also a "pretender" from the Northern Court, passed away at 60 years old.

Southern Court's Era Name

During the same time that the Northern Court used Kōryaku, the Southern Court used a different era name.

• The Southern Court's era name was Tenju, which lasted from 1375 to 1381.

More About Japanese History

• To learn more about this time, you can read about the Muromachi period.