Kowa
Encyclopedia
Kōwa was a Japanese era name
(年号, nengō, lit. year name) of the Southern Court
during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts
after Tenju
and before Genchū
. This period spanned the years from February 1381 to April 1384. The Southern Court
emperors in Yoshino during this time-frame were and . The Northern court
emperors in Kyoto were and
, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo
through Emperor Go-Murakami
, whose had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.
Until the end of the Edo period
, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate
had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the Imperial Regalia
were not in their possession.
This illegitimate had been established in Kyoto
by Ashikaga Takauji
.
In this time frame, Eitoku
(1381–1384) was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.
Japanese era name
The Japanese era calendar scheme is a common calendar scheme used in Japan, which identifies a year by the combination of the and the year number within the era...
(年号, nengō, lit. year name) of the Southern Court
Southern Court
The were a set of four emperors whose legitimate claims were usurped during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392. In spite of the legitimacy of its claims to the throne, the Southern Court was permanently replaced in 1392 by the illegitimate Northern Court.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts
Nanboku-cho
The , spanning from 1336 to 1392, was a period that occurred during the formative years of the Muromachi bakufu of Japan's history.During this period, there existed a Northern Imperial Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji in Kyoto, and a Southern Imperial Court, established by Emperor Go-Daigo in...
after Tenju
Tenju
Tenju was a Japanese era name of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Bunchū and before Kōwa. This period spanned the years from May 1375 to February 1381. The Southern Court emperor in Yoshino during this time-frame was...
and before Genchū
Genchu
Genchū was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts lasting from April 1384 to October 1392. Reigning Emperors were Go-Kameyama in the south and Go-Komatsu in the north.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
. This period spanned the years from February 1381 to April 1384. The Southern Court
Southern Court
The were a set of four emperors whose legitimate claims were usurped during the Nanboku-chō period spanning from 1336 through 1392. In spite of the legitimacy of its claims to the throne, the Southern Court was permanently replaced in 1392 by the illegitimate Northern Court.-Nanboku-chō overview:...
emperors in Yoshino during this time-frame were and . The Northern court
Northern Court (Japan)
The , also known as the "Ashikaga Pretenders" or "Northern Pretenders", were a set of six pretenders to the throne of Japan during the Nanboku-chō period from 1336 through 1392...
emperors in Kyoto were and
Nanboku-chō overview
During the Meiji periodMeiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, an Imperial decree dated March 3, 1911 established that the legitimate reigning monarchs of this period were the direct descendants of Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo
Emperor Go-Daigo was the 96th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession....
through Emperor Go-Murakami
Emperor Go-Murakami
was the 97th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession, and a member of the Southern Court during the Nanboku-chō period of rival courts. He reigned from September 18, 1339 until March 29, 1368 . His personal name was...
, whose had been established in exile in Yoshino, near Nara.
Until the end of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
, the militarily superior pretender-Emperors supported by the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
had been mistakenly incorporated in Imperial chronologies despite the undisputed fact that the Imperial Regalia
Imperial Regalia of Japan
The , also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, consist of the sword Kusanagi , the mirror Yata no Kagami , and the jewel Yasakani no Magatama...
were not in their possession.
This illegitimate had been established in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
by Ashikaga Takauji
Ashikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
.
Change of era
- 1381, also called : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Tenju 7.
In this time frame, Eitoku
Eitoku
was a Japanese era name of the Northern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Kōryaku and before Shitoku. This period spanned the years from February 1381 to February 1384...
(1381–1384) was the Southern Court equivalent nengō.
Events of the Kōwa Era
- 1381 (Kōwa 1): The emperor travels in procession to see Ashikaga YoshimitsuAshikaga Yoshimitsuwas the 3rd shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who ruled from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was the son of the second shogun Ashikaga Yoshiakira....
at his palacial home in Muromachi. - 1381 (Kōwa 1): the kampaku Nijō YoshimotoNijo Yoshimoto, son of regent Nijō Michihira, was a Japanese kugyō , waka poet and renga master of the early Muromachi period .Yoshimoto's wife gave birth to Nijō Moroyoshi...
is elevated to the position of daijō daijin. Yoshimitsu is raised to the Imperial court position of nadaijin at the young age of 24. Yoshimoto and Yoshimitsu work well in harmony together. - 1382 (Kōwa 2): Yoshimitsu is raised to the court position of sadaijinSadaijin, most commonly translated as "Minister of the Left", was a government position in Japan in the late Nara and Heian periods. The position was consolidated in the Taihō Code of 702. The Asuka Kiyomihara Code of 689 marks the initial appearance of the Sadaijin in the context of a central...
, and several days later, he was named General of the Left (sadaisho). In this same period, Fujiwara no Sanetoki is elevated from the position of dainagonDainagonwas a counselor of the first rank in the Imperial court of Japan. The role dates from the 7th century.This advisory position remained a part of the Imperial court from the 8th century until the Meiji period in the 19th century....
to nadaijin. - 1383 (Kōwa 3): Emperor Go-Kameyama ascends southern throne.