Tennin (era) facts for kids

Tennin (天仁) was a special way to count years in Japan, like how we use "AD" or "CE" today. It's called a Japanese era name (or nengō). The Tennin era came after an era called Kajō and before Ten'ei. This time period lasted from August 1108 to July 1110. During these years, the emperor of Japan was Emperor Toba.

What Happened During the Tennin Era?

Important Events in 1108

• In 1108, which was the first year of the Tennin era, a powerful leader named Minamoto no Tameyoshi took charge of the Seiwa Genji clan. This happened after the death of Minamoto no Yoshiie, who was the previous leader.

• Also in 1108, Mount Asama, a volcano, erupted. This eruption caused a lot of damage in the area around the mountain.

Important Events in 1109

• In the first month of 1109 (the second year of Tennin), the emperor, Emperor Toba, made special visits. He went to the Iwashimizu Shrine and the Kamo Shrines. These were important religious places at the time.

More About This Time

• The Tennin era was part of a longer period in Japanese history called the Heian period. This was a time when the emperor and the court had a lot of power.

• If you want to learn more about how Japan counted its years, you can check out "The Japanese Calendar" from the National Diet Library. It has interesting information and pictures. -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection