Kengen facts for kids
Kengen (乾元), also known as Kangen or Ken'ei, was a special time period or "era" in Japanese history. It's like how we have years, but in old Japan, they also had era names. This era came after Shōan and before Kagen. The Kengen era started in November 1302 and ended in August 1303. During this short but important time, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Go-Nijō.
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Important Events During Kengen
Shin-Yakushi-ji Temple Repairs
In 1302, during the first year of the Kengen era, an important Buddhist temple called Shin-Yakushi-ji got some repairs. This temple is very special because its main building is one of the oldest wooden structures in all of Japan. It was first built way back in the 8th century, and some of its original wooden parts are still there today!
A Royal Family Visit
Also in 1302, Emperor Go-Nijō made a formal visit to his grandfather, the former Emperor Kameyama. Kameyama was living in a retirement home at the time. Later that night, Emperor Kameyama sent a poem to his grandson. Emperor Go-Nijō then wrote a poem back to his grandfather. This showed the deep respect and bond between them.
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Understanding the Kengen Era
Here is a quick look at the years covered by the Kengen era:
| Kengen | 1st | 2nd |
|---|---|---|
| 1302 | 1303 |
This table shows how the Kengen era fit into the flow of Japanese history:
| Preceded by: Shōan |
Era or nengō: Kengen |
Succeeded by: Kagen |
