Ryakunin facts for kids

Ryakunin (暦仁) was a special name for a period of time in Japanese history. It's like how we have years, but in old Japan, they also used these "era names" called nengō (年号, ([nengō,] Error: {{nihongo}}: text has italic markup (help), lit. "year name")). The Ryakunin era came after an era called Katei and before an era called En'ō.

This short period lasted from November 1238 to April 1239. During this time, the emperor of Japan was Shijō-tennō (四条天皇). He was the ruler of the country.

What Happened During the Ryakunin Era?

The Ryakunin era was quite short, but a few important things happened, especially involving some powerful leaders of the time.

Important Events of Ryakunin 1238

• 1238 (Ryakunin 1, 1st month): A very important leader named Kūjo Yoritsune traveled from Kamakura to Kyoto. Kamakura was a major city where the military government was based. Kyoto was the capital city where the emperor lived. Yoritsune traveled with another powerful figure, Hōjō Yasutoki.
• 1238 (Ryakunin 1, 2nd month): Yoritsune moved into his new home in Rokuhara. Rokuhara was a part of Kyoto where many important government buildings and residences were located.
• 1238 (Ryakunin 1, 10th month): Later that year, Yoritsune traveled back from Kyoto to Kamakura. These journeys showed how important he was, moving between the two centers of power.

Related History

• The Ryakunin era was part of a larger historical period in Japan called the Kamakura period. This was a time when military leaders, known as shoguns, held a lot of power.

More Information

• You can learn more about how the Japanese calendar worked by visiting the National Diet Library's "The Japanese Calendar" website -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection.