Tenbun facts for kids

The Tenbun era, also known as Tembun or Temmon, was a special way of counting years in Japan. It was a nengō, which means "year name." This era came after the Kyōroku era and before the Kōji era. The Tenbun period started in July 1532 and finished in October 1555. During these years, Emperor Go-Nara was the ruler of Japan.

What Happened During the Tenbun Era?

This era saw many important events that shaped Japan's history. From new leaders to new technologies, a lot changed during the Tenbun years.

Important Dates and Events

• 1536 (Tenbun 5): Emperor Go-Nara officially became the emperor. This was a big ceremony where he took his place as the country's leader.

• 1542 (Tenbun 11): A powerful leader named Imagawa Yoshimoto from Suruga Province fought a battle against the army of Oda Nobuhide. Imagawa Yoshimoto lost this battle.

• 1543 (Tenbun 12): A ship from Portugal landed on an island called Tanegashima. This was a very important moment because the Portuguese brought the first guns to Japan! This new weapon would change how battles were fought.

• 1543 (Tenbun 13): There was a lot of rain, causing floods in Kyoto and the areas nearby. Kyoto was the capital city at that time.

• 1546 (Tenbun 15): Ashikaga Yoshiteru became the 13th Shōgun of the Ashikaga shogunate. The Shōgun was a military leader who held a lot of power in Japan, even more than the emperor in many ways.

Ashikaga Yoshiteru became the 13th Shōgun in the 15th year of the Tenbun era.

• 1547 (Tenbun 11): A special agreement called the "Treaty of Tenbun" was made between Joseon (which is now Korea) and Japan. This treaty limited trade between the two countries to only one Korean port, Pusan.

• 1549 (Tenbun 18): A Catholic priest named Francis Xavier arrived in Japan. He was a Jesuit missionary who came to share his religion with the Japanese people.

• 1551 (Tenbun 20): Francis Xavier brought the first mechanical clock to Japan. He gave this amazing new invention to a powerful lord named Ōuchi Yoshitaka.

Related pages

• Muromachi period

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection