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Hakuchi (白雉?) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō,?, lit. "year name") after the Taika era and before Shuchō. This period spanned the years from February 650 through December 654.[1] The reigning emperor was Kōtoku-tennō (孝徳天皇?).[2]

Contents

History [edit]

In 650, also known as Hakuchi gannen (白雉元年?), the era began in the sixth year of the Taika era.[3] The daimyo of Nagato province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. This white pheasant was then construed as a good omen. Emperor Kōtoku was extraordinarily pleased by this special avian rarity, and he wanted the entire court to see this white bird for themselves. He commanded a special audience in which he could formally invite the sadaijin and the udaijin to join him in admiring the rare bird; and on this occasion, the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant").[4]

In Japan, this was the second nengō,[1] derived from the Chinese system of eras (nianhao);[5] although some scholarly doubt has been cast on the authenticity of Taika and Hakuchi as historically legitimate era names.[6]

Timeline [edit]

Timelines of early Japanese nengō and Imperial reign dates
Emperor Mommu Empress Jitō Emperor Temmu Emperor Kōbun Emperor Tenji Empress Saimei Emperor Kōtoku Keiun Taihō (era) Shuchō Hakuchi (era) Taika (era) Empress Gemmei Empress Kōgyoku

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the Hakuchi era [edit]

  • 650 (Hakuchi 1): Kōtoku commanded that all prisoners were to be granted liberty throughout the country.[4]
  • 654 (Hakuchi 5, 1st month): A great number of rats moved into the province of Yamato; and this was construed as a sign that the capital should be moved.[3]
  • 654 (Hakuchi 5): Kōtoku died at the age of 59 after a reign of 10 years—five years during Taika, and five years during Hakuchi.[7]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ a b Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hakuchi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 280 at Google Books; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File.
  2. ^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 47-50. at Google Books
  3. ^ a b Brown, Delmer et al.. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 267.
  4. ^ a b Titsingh, p. 49.
  5. ^ Nussbaum, "Taika" at p. 924 at Google Books
  6. ^ Bialock, David T. (2007). Eccentric Spaces, Hidden Histories: Narrative, Ritual, and Royal Authority from the Chronicles of Japan to the Tale of the Heike, pp. 56-57 at Google Books; excerpt at p. 57, "Whether the era name of Taika and Hakuchi are viewed as evidence of an actual precedent set by Kōtoku or as the work of chroniclers belonging to a later reign around the time of Nihon Shoki 's editing, the practice of assigning era names inaugurated a new phase in the consolidation of the court's expanding political power."
  7. ^ Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 133; Titsingh, p. 50.

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Hakuchi 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
Gregorian 650 651 652 653 654
Preceded by:
Taika
Era or nengō:
Hakuchi
Succeeded by:
——
Preceded by:
——
Imperial reign dates:
Kōtoku period
645—654
Succeeded by:
Saimei period
655—661

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