Kankō facts for kids

Kankō (寛弘) was a special way to name a period of time in Japan. Think of it like a "year name" or "era name" (called nengō in Japanese). This Kankō era came after an era called Chōhō and before Chōwa.

The Kankō era officially started in July 1004 and lasted until December 1012. During these years, two different emperors ruled Japan: Emperor Ichijō and then Emperor Sanjō.

Key Events During the Kankō Era

This period saw some important changes and events involving the emperors of Japan.

Changes in Imperial Leadership

• March 17, 1008 (Kankō 5): A former emperor named Emperor Kazan passed away. He was 41 years old.
• July 16, 1011 (Kankō 8): After ruling for many years, Emperor Ichijō decided to step down from his role. This is called abdicating. His cousin then became the new emperor. This process of taking over the throne is called "succession" (or senso).
• Soon after, the new emperor, Emperor Sanjō, had special ceremonies to officially confirm his role as the ruler. This was called sokui.
• July 25, 1011 (Kankō 8): Just a few days after stepping down, former-Emperor Ichijō died at the age of 32.
• November 21, 1011 (Kankō 8): Another former emperor, Emperor Reizei, also passed away during this era. He was 62 years old.

Understanding Japanese Eras

Japanese era names, like Kankō, are part of a special calendar system. They help historians keep track of events and the reigns of different emperors.

Timeline of the Kankō Era

This table shows the years that made up the Kankō era:

Related Information

• Heian period - The larger historical period that the Kankō era was a part of.

More Resources

• The National Diet Library has information about "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection.