Kōwa (Muromachi period) facts for kids

Kōwa (弘和) was a special way of counting years in Japan, like how we use "A.D." or "C.E." today. It was an official "era name" (called nengō in Japanese) used by the Southern Court during a time in Japanese history known as the Nanboku-chō period. This era started in February 1381 and ended in April 1384.

What Was the Kōwa Era?

The Kōwa era was a short period in Japanese history, lasting only a few years. During this time, Japan was divided into two main groups, each with its own emperor. This split is known as the Nanboku-chō period, which means "Southern and Northern Courts period."

The Two Courts

During the Nanboku-chō period, there wasn't just one emperor ruling Japan. Instead, there were two separate imperial courts:

• The Southern Court was located in a place called Yoshino. They believed their line of emperors was the rightful one. The Kōwa era name was used by this court.
• The Northern Court was in Kyoto, the traditional capital. They also had their own emperor and used different era names.

This division caused a lot of conflict and made it a confusing time in Japan's history.

Emperors During Kōwa

During the Kōwa era, the Southern Court had two emperors:

• Emperor Chōkei (長慶天皇, Chōkei-tennō)
• Emperor Go-Kameyama (後亀山天皇, Go-Kameyama-tennō)

At the same time, the Northern Court in Kyoto had their own emperors:

• Emperor Go-En'yū (後円融天皇, Go-En'yū-tennō)
• Emperor Go-Komatsu (後小松天皇, Go-Komatsu-tennō)

It was a unique time because Japan had two emperors at once, each claiming to be the true ruler!

When Did Kōwa Happen?

The Kōwa era began after an era called Tenju and was followed by the Genchū era. Here's a quick look at the years it covered:

This table shows that the Kōwa era lasted for four years, from 1381 to 1384.

How Era Names Work

In Japan, era names like Kōwa are called nengō. They are used to mark periods of time, often starting with a new emperor's reign or after an important event. It's a bit like how we might talk about the "Victorian Era" in England, but in Japan, these names were officially used for dates.

Learn More

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