Kanji (era) facts for kids

Kanji (寛治) was a special time period in Japan's history. It was a Japanese era (called a nengō) that came after the Ōtoku era and before the Kahō era. The Kanji period lasted from April 1087 to December 1094. During this time, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Horikawa.

Key Events of the Kanji Era

This era saw several important events involving the emperor and other powerful figures.

Emperor Horikawa and His Father

• 1087 (Kanji 1, 5th month): The former emperor, Emperor Shirakawa, decided to retire. He moved to a place called Uji. Even though he retired, he still had a lot of influence.
• 1088 (Kanji 2, 1st month): Emperor Horikawa visited his father, the former Emperor Shirakawa, at his home in Uji. This shows the close relationship between them.

Visits to Mount Hiei

• 1088 (Kanji 2, 10th month): Former Emperor Shirakawa visited the temples on Mount Hiei. This mountain was a very important religious center.
• 1089 (Kanji 3, 5th month): Shirakawa visited Mount Hiei again. This time, he stayed there for seven days. These visits show his strong connection to Buddhism.

Important Government Changes

• January 28, 1088 (Kanji 2, 14th day of the 12th month): A powerful leader named Fujiwara Morozane was given a very important job. He became the daijō-daijin, which was like the Prime Minister of Japan.
• 1090 (Kanji 4, 12th month): Morozane received another high position. He was named kampaku, which meant he was the chief advisor to the emperor. This made him one of the most powerful people in the government.
• March 26, 1094 (Kanji 8, 8th day of the 3rd month): Morozane decided to step down from his role as kampaku.

Kanji Era in Numbers

Here's a quick look at how the Kanji era years match up with the Gregorian calendar we use today:

Learn More

• Heian period
• You can find more information about the Japanese calendar at the National Diet Library's website: "The Japanese Calendar".