Ten'yō facts for kids

Ten'yō (天養) was a special name for a period of time in Japanese history, like how we have years today. It's called a nengō (年号, ([nengō,] Error: {{nihongo}}: text has italic markup (help), lit. "year name")). This era came after the Kōji era and before the Kyūan era.

The Ten'yō period started in February 1144 and ended in July 1145. During this short time, the emperor of Japan was Konoe-tennō (近衛天皇).

Key Events During Ten'yō

• 1144 (Ten'yō 1, 7th month): People in Japan saw a bright comet in the sky.
• 1145 (Ten'yō 1, 8th month): The empress Taiken-mon In passed away. She was the mother of a previous emperor, Emperor Sutoku.
• 1145 (Ten'yō 1): The emperor visited important religious places. He went to Iwashimizu Shrine and to the Kamo Shrines. These were very significant visits for the emperor at that time.

Understanding Japanese Eras

Japanese eras like Ten'yō are a way to count years based on the emperor's reign or other important events. This system is different from the Gregorian calendar we use today.

Learn More

• Heian period: This was the larger historical period that the Ten'yō era was a part of.
• You can find more information about the Japanese calendar and its history at the National Diet Library's website: "The Japanese Calendar".