Bunkyū

.

Change of era

*; February 19, 1861: The new era name of "Bunkyū" (meaning "Literate Story") was created because of a belief drawn from Chinese Astrology that the 58th year of any zodiacal cycle brings great changes. [Satow, Ernest 'et al". (1905). "Japan 1853-1864, Or, Genji Yume Monogatari", p. 38.] The previous era ended and a new one commenced in "Man'en" 2.

Events of the "Bunkyū" era

* "Bunkyū 1" (January 1862): The Bonin Islands ("Ogasawara" Islands) are re-confirmed as a territory of Japan, following up "discovery" of the islands in "Kanbun" 10 (1670) and a shogunate expedition to the islands in "Enpō" 3 (1675). [Komazawa University [http://japanese.human.metro-u.ac.jp/kokubun/bonins/04tanaka.htm Monograph by Tanaka Hiroyuki] (in English)]
* "Bunkyū 2" (1862): The "Bunkyū" Reforms relax restrictions on daimyo which had been imposed by former Tairo Ii Naosuke in the Ansei era. [Jansen, Marius. (2000). "The Making of Modern Japan", p. 296.]
* "Bunkyū 2", on the 21st day of the 8th month (September 14, 1862): Namamugi Incident. Satsuma retainers kill English merchant Charles Lennox Richardson at Namamugi on the Tōkaidō road.
* "Bunkyū 3", on the 5th day of the 3rd month (April 22, 1863): Shogun Iemochi travelled in a great procession to the capital. He had been summoned by the emperor, and had 3,000 retainers as escort. This was the first time that a shogun had visited Heian-kyō since the visit of Iemitsu in "Kan'ei" 11 (1634) -- 230 years before.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). "Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869", p. 325.]
* "Bunkyū 3", on the 11th day of the 3rd month (April 29, 1863): Emperor Komei made an Imperial progress to the Kamo Shrines. He was accompanied by the shogun, all the principal officials and many feudal lords. This was the first Imperial progress since Emperor Go-Mizunoo visited Nijo Castle more than 230 years before; and no Emperor had visited Kamo since Emperor Go-Daigo honored both shrines in "Kemmu" 1 (1334). [see above] ]
* "Bunkyū 3", on the 12th day of the 3rd month (April 30, 1863): In the early morning, Aizu accepts under its patronage the men of the Rōshigumi, who went on to form Shinsengumi. [http://shinsengumihq.com/CMS/index.php?Shinsengumi:Kondou_Isami ShinsengumiHQ.com (SHQ) -HISTORY-FICTION-MAKOTO - Kondou Isami ] ]
* "Bunkyū 3", on the 15th day of the 3rd month (May 2, 1863): The Rōshigumi men who were taken under Aizu patronage go to Konkaikōmyōji Temple to make their first formal, public appearance, and pay their respects to their new patron, Matsudaira Katamori. As Katamori is unavailable, they are instead met by two of his senior retainers.
* "Bunkyū 3", on the 2nd-4th of the 7th month (August 15-17, 1863): Bombardment of Kagoshima in retaliation for the Namamugi Incident.

ee also

*Japanese calendar

References

* Jansen, Marius B. (2000). "The Making of Modern Japan." Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-6740-0991-6
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard A. B. (1956). "Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869." Kyoto: The Ponsonby Memorial Society.
* Satow, Ernest Mason and Baba Bunyei (1905). "Japan 1853-1864, Or, Genji Yume Monogatari." Tokyo: Naigai suppan kyokai. [http://books.google.com/books?id=22cP2o20HrAC&dq=japan,[phone]+Satow ... Link to digitized, full-text copy of this book]

External links

* National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" [http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e/ -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection]
* "Bunkyū" 3 procession of Shogun towards Kyoto [http://www.japankunst.de/japanbild/h0836_e.htm -- link to digitized image of woodblock print by Utagawa Tsuyanaga]