Man'en facts for kids

Man'en (万延) was a special way the Japanese people counted years a long time ago. It was like a short period of time, similar to how we have years today. This period came after an era called Ansei and before an era called Bunkyū.

The Man'en era started in March 1860 and finished in February 1861. During this time, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Kōmei. The word Man'en itself means "Ten Thousand Years Prolonged," which sounds like a wish for a very long and peaceful time!

Important Events During Man'en

This is a coin made during the Man'en era in Japan.

Even though the Man'en era was short, some interesting things happened:

• 1860 (Man'en 1): A person named Orrin Freeman became the first professional photographer from a Western country to live in Japan. He settled in a city called Yokohama. This was a big deal because photography was new, and it helped people in Japan and other countries see what life was like there.

• 1860 (Man'en 1): Japan sent its very first group of representatives to the United States. This was called a diplomatic mission. It was important because it helped Japan and the United States start talking and working together, building relationships between their governments.

Related Information

• Edo period: The Man'en era was part of a much longer period in Japanese history called the Edo period.

• You can learn more about how Japan counted years by visiting the National Diet Library's website: The Japanese Calendar.

See also

In Spanish: Man'en para niños