Keiun facts for kids

The Keiun (also known as Kyōun) was a special name for a period in Japanese history. These period names are called nengō (年号). The Keiun era came after the Taihō era and before the Wadō era. It lasted from May 704 to January 708. During this time, two emperors ruled Japan: Mommu and Gemmei.

Important Events of the Keiun Era

• 707 (Keiun 4): Emperor Mommu died. His son was too young to become the next ruler. So, his mother, Gemmei, became the empress of Japan until her son was old enough.
• July 18, 707 (Keiun 4): Empress Gemmei's role as the new ruler was officially confirmed with special ceremonies. She was 48 years old at the time.
• 707 (Keiun 4): People found large amounts of copper in an area called Musashi Province. This was a very important discovery!
• 708 (Keiun 5): Because of the new Empress Gemmei and the exciting discovery of copper, the era name was changed. The new era was called Wadō. The word Wadō means "Japanese copper." This name was chosen because wa was an old Chinese word for Japan, and dō means copper.

More About This Time

• Asuka period
• You can learn more about the Japanese calendar and history at the National Diet Library.

See also

In Spanish: Keiun para niños