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Glossary History Timeline

Bunmei (文明, "civilization") was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, "year name") after Ōnin and before Chōkyō. This period spanned from April 1469 through July 1487.^[1] The reigning emperor was Go-Tsuchimikado-tennō (後土御門天皇).^[2]

Change of era[edit]

• 1469 Bunmei gannen (文明元年): The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events. The old era ended and a new one commenced in Ōnin 3.

Events of the Bunmei era[edit]

• 1468 (Bunmei 2, 7th month): Ichijō Kanera (1402–1481) was relieved of his duties as kampaku.^[3]
• January 18, 1471 (Bunmei 2, 27th day of the 12th month ): The former Emperor Go-Hanazono died at age 52.^[3]
• April 16, 1473 (Bunmei 5, on the 19th day of the 3rd month): Yamana Sōzen died at age 70.^[4]
• 1478 (Bunmei 10): Ichijō Kanera published Bunmei ittō-ki (On the Unity of Knowledge and Culture) which deals with political ethics and six points about the duties of a prince.^[1]
• February 21, 1482 (Bunmei 14, 4th day of the 2nd month): Construction of Ashikaga Yoshimasa's Silver Pavilion commenced.^[5]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301
• Keene, Donald. (2003). Yoshimasa and the Silver Pavilion: The Creation of the Soul of Japan. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-13056-1; OCLC 52268947
• Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Ōdai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691

External links[edit]

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