Kemmu facts for kids

The Kemmu era (pronounced "Kem-moo") was a special time in Japanese history. It was a period when Japan had two different emperors at the same time! This happened during the Nanboku-chō period, which means "Southern and Northern Courts period."

The Kemmu era officially started in January 1334. It ended in August 1338 for the Northern Court, which was based in Kyoto. But for the Southern Court, based in Yoshino, it only lasted until February 1336.

During this time, the Northern Court's emperor in Kyoto was Emperor Kōmyō. His rival, the Southern Court's emperor in Yoshino, was Emperor Go-Daigo.

What Happened During the Kemmu Era?

The Kemmu era is famous for the Kemmu Restoration. This was a big effort by Emperor Go-Daigo to bring back the emperor's power. Before this, Japan was ruled by military leaders called the Kamakura shogunate. When the shogunate fell, Emperor Go-Daigo wanted the emperor to be in charge again.

However, this plan didn't fully work. Instead, it led to the creation of two separate Imperial courts. This is why Japan had a Northern Court and a Southern Court for many years.

Important Events and Records

• 1334 (Kemmu 1): Emperor Go-Daigo ordered a book called Kemmu nenchū gyōji to be written. This book described old court ceremonies. Its goal was to help bring back ancient court traditions and manners.
• October 25, 1334 (Kemmu 1): Emperor Go-Daigo visited the Kamo-jinja shrines. This was a very rare event! No other emperor would visit these shrines again until Emperor Kōmei did so in 1863.
• 1336 (Kemmu 3): An unknown writer published Kemmu nenkan ki. This was a detailed record of the Kemmu era. It gives us lots of information about the laws, government, and how land was given out by the emperor.
• 1336 (Kemmu 3): A powerful military leader named Ashikaga Takauji created a new set of laws. This legal code had 17 articles and was called Kemmu-shikimoku.
• May 17, 1336 (Kemmu 3): Former Emperor Go-Fushimi passed away.

Understanding the Two Courts

The way time was counted was different for each court.

• In the Northern Court in Kyoto, the Kemmu era followed the Shōkyō era.
• In the Southern Court in Yoshino, the Kemmu era followed the Genkō era.

This shows how divided Japan was during this interesting time in its history.

Related pages

• Muromachi period

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