Nin'an facts for kids

Nin'an (仁安), also known as Ninnan, was a special way the Japanese people kept track of years, like how we use "AD" or "CE" today. This system is called a Japanese era name (or nengō). The Nin'an era came after an era called Eiman and before Kaō.

This period of time lasted from August 1166 to April 1169. During these years, two different emperors ruled Japan: Emperor Rokujō and Emperor Takakura.

Key Events of the Nin'an Era

A Change in Emperors

A very important event happened in 1168, during the third year of the Nin'an era.

• In February 1168, Emperor Rokujō was only five years old. He was removed from his position as emperor. This was done by his grandfather, who was a powerful former emperor named Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
• When Emperor Rokujō was removed, he was given a special title, but he no longer ruled.

The New Emperor Takes Over

• After Rokujō was removed, his cousin became the new emperor. This cousin was the third son of the former Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
• On April 29, 1168, the new emperor, Emperor Takakura, officially took on all the duties and powers of a ruler. This was confirmed with special ceremonies.

Understanding the Calendar

The table below shows how the years of the Nin'an era match up with the Gregorian calendar we use today.

What Came Before and After

Japanese era names always follow each other in a specific order. Here's how the Nin'an era fit into that sequence: