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The Japanese Imperial calendar year system

2023-10-24T17:23:10Z

The Japanese Imperial calendar year system

In 1872, the Meiji government declared that February 11, 660 BC was the exact date on which the reign of Jimmu began. Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇, Jinmu-tennō) was the 1st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Jimmu is known as the founder of the Imperial dynasty.
This date was therefore identified as the start of the Japanese nation.

A national holiday was establishd to commemorate the anniversary of Jimmu's ascension to the throne 2,532 years earlier.

This mythical date was designated as the holiday Kigensetsu ("Era Day"). This national holiday was celebrated from 1872 to 1948.

The Kigensetsu events in 1940 were special. They celebrated what was believed to be 2,600 years since the start of Emperor.

There are no certain dates for this emperor's life or reign. The names and sequence of the early emperors were not confirmed as "traditional" until the reign of Emperor Kammu, who was the 50th monarch of the Yamato dynasty.

Historians debate whether or not Emperor Jimmu actually existed because there is limited evidence of him. Some stories about him may reflect actual events that happened.

The Japanese Imperial calendar year system

The Kigen (紀元) or KoKi (皇紀) is based on the date of the legendary founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC. It was first used in the official calendar in 1873. However, it never replaced Era names, and since World War II has been completely abandoned. It is seldom found on ceramics and I have seen only one, thanks to Sandra Andacht.

Here is a fine example (ID#2275) of dating using this Imperial year system.

Source Wikipedia

Japanese old calendar system

2022-04-07T15:19:34Z

The Japanese calendar system was changed after Meiji restauration.

Originaly the lunar calendar, called wafu getsumei (和風月名) -（わふうげつめい) used Japanese names for each month.
Their names are adapted to the seasons and events of the lunar calendar, and are sometimes used in the current calendar as well, but they deviate from the current sense of the seasons by about one to two months.

The details of lunar calendar is given here, it is necessary to undersand old dating system :

https://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/chapter3/s8.html
https://gogen-yurai.jp/kisaragi/

The Era name or Nengō (年号) naming system

2020-05-01T08:27:25Z

The Japanese do not use a calendar year system as we do in most part of the world but give a different name at each period of reign of each emperor. This system is still used today for official purpose. But it is quite impossible to remember or calculate the actual calendar year specially before Meiji when the emperor has changed every few years. Therefore, from 1603 up to 1867, the Tokugawa period is very often and commonly refered to Edo period. Then we distinguish roughly early, middle or late Edo which are then followed by Meiji and Taisho periods. The denomination early Showa is also often used to cover the first part of Showa reign which was particularly long.

Name	Romaji	Period
安永	Anei	1772-1781
天明	Tenmei	1781-1789
寛政	Kansei	1789-1801
享和	Kyowa	1801-1804
文化	Bunka	1804-1818
文政	Bunsei	1818-1830
天保	Tenpo	1830-1844
弘化	Kouka	1844-1848
嘉永	Kaei	1848-1854
安政	Ansei	1854-1860
万延	Manei	1860-1861
文久	Bunkyu	1861-1864
元治	Genji	1864-1865
慶応	Keiou	1865-1868
明治	Meiji	1868-1912
大正	Taisho	1913-1926
昭和	Shouwa	1926-1988
平成	Heisei	1988-2019
㋿	Reiwa	2019-today

Chinese calendar

2020-04-30T07:38:04Z

The lunisolar Chinese calendar

How it works: The first combination of Heavenly stem and Earthly branch is 甲子, then it goes 乙丑, 丙寅, 丁卯, and so on taking the next from each respective row. When you reach the end of the 10 first Heavenly stems, just go back to the beginning and you start again with 甲戌, and so on until you have all 60 and end up back at the start. Each one of these combinations is a cycle.

Generally the Japanese use the Kun yomi reading of the combination to name the concerned year.

Heavenly Stems				Earthly Branches
Kanji	English	On'yomi	Kun'yomi	Kanji	English	On'yomi	Kun'yomi
甲	Yang Wood	kō	kinoe	子	Rat	shi	ne
乙	Yin Wood	otsu	kinoto	丑	Ox	chū	ushi
丙	Yang Fire	hei	hinoe	寅	Tiger	in	tora
丁	Yin Fire	tei	hinoto	卯	Rabbit	bō	u
戊	Yang Earth	bo	tsuchinoe	辰	Dragon	shin	tatsu
己	Yin Earth	ki	tsuchinoto	巳	Snake	shi	mi
庚	Yang Metal	kō	kanoe	午	Horse	go	uma
辛	Yin Metal	shin	kanoto	未	Goat	mi (or) bi	hitsuji
壬	Yang Water	jin	mizunoe	申	Monkey	shin	saru
癸	Yin Water	ki	mizunoto	酉	Rooster	yū	tori
				戌	Dog	jutsu	inu
				亥	Pig	gai	i

Conversion Table between Cyclical years and Western years

No.	Heavenly stem	Earthly branch	Year	1804–1863	1864–1923	1924–1983	1984–2043
1	甲 Yang Wood	子 Rat	甲子	Feb 11 1804 – Jan 30 1805	Feb 8 1864 – Jan 26 1865	Feb 05 1924 – Jan 23 1925	Feb 02 1984 – Feb 19 1985
2	乙 Yin Wood	丑 Ox	乙丑	Jan 31 1805 – Feb 17 1806	Jan 27 1865 – Feb 14 1866	Jan 24 1925 – Feb 12 1926	Feb 20 1985 – Feb 08 1986
3	丙 Yang Fire	寅 Tiger	丙寅	Feb 18 1806 – Feb 6 1807	Feb 15 1866 – Feb 4 1867	Feb 13 1926 – Feb 01 1927	Feb 09 1986 – Jan 28 1987
4	丁 Yin Fire	卯 Rabbit	丁卯	Feb 7 1807 – Jan 27 1808	Feb 5 1867 – Jan 24 1868	Feb 02 1927 – Jan 21 1928	Jan 29 1987 – Feb 16 1988
5	戊 Yang Earth	辰 Dragon	戊辰	Jan 28 1808 – Feb 13 1809	Jan 15 1868 – Feb 10 1869	Jan 22 1928 – Feb 08 1929	Feb 17 1988 – Feb 05 1989
6	己 Yin Earth	巳 Snake	己巳	Feb 14 1809 – Feb 3 1810	Feb 11 1869 – Jan 30 1870	Feb 09 1929 – Jan 28 1930	Feb 06 1989 – Jan 26 1990
7	庚 Yang Metal	午 Horse	庚午	Feb 4 1810 – Jan 24 1811	Jan 31 1870 – Feb 18 1871	Jan 29 1930 – Feb 16 1931	Jan 27 1990 – Feb 14 1991
8	辛 Yin Metal	未 Goat	辛未	Jan 25 1811 – Feb 12 1812	Feb 19 1871 – Feb 8 1872	Feb 17 1931 – Feb 05 1932	Feb 15 1991 – Feb 03 1992
9	壬 Yang Water	申 Monkey	壬申	Feb 13 1812 – Jan 31 1813	Feb 9 1872 – Jan 28 1873	Feb 06 1932 – Jan 24 1933	Feb 04 1992 – Jan 22 1993
10	癸 Yin Water	酉 Rooster	癸酉	Feb 1 1813 – Feb 19 1814	Jan 29 1873 – Feb 16 1874	Jan 25 1933 – Feb 13 1934	Jan 23 1993 – Feb 09 1994
11	甲 Yang Wood	戌 Dog	甲戌	Feb 20 1814 – Feb 8 1815	Feb 17 1874 – Feb 5 1875	Feb 14 1934 – Feb 02 1935	Feb 10 1994 – Jan 30 1995
12	乙 Yin Wood	亥 Pig	乙亥	Feb 9 1815 – Jan 28 1816	Feb 6 1875 – Jan 25 1876	Feb 04 1935 – Jan 23 1936	Jan 31 1995 – Feb 18 1996
13	丙 Yang Fire	子 Rat	丙子	Jan 29 1816 – Jan 16 1817	Jan 26 1876 – Feb 12 1877	Jan 24 1936 – Feb 10 1937	Feb 19 1996 – Feb 06 1997
14	丁 Yin Fire	丑 Ox	丁丑	Jan 17 1817 – Feb 4 1818	Feb 13 1877 – Feb 1 1878	Feb 11 1937 – Jan 30 1938	Feb 07 1997 – Jan 27 1998
15	戊 Yang Earth	寅 Tiger	戊寅	Feb 5 1818 – Jan 25 1819	Feb 2 1878 – Jan 21 1879	Jan 31 1938 – Feb 18 1939	Jan 28 1998 – Feb 15 1999
16	己 Yin Earth	卯 Rabbit	己卯	Jan 26 1819 – Feb 13 1820	Jan 22 1879 – Feb 9 1880	Feb 19 1939 – Feb 07 1940	Feb 16 1999 – Feb 04 2000
17	庚 Yang Metal	辰 Dragon	庚辰	Feb 13 1820 – Feb 2 1821	Feb 10 1880 – Jan 29 1881	Feb 08 1940 – Jan 26 1941	Feb 05 2000 – Jan 23 2001
18	辛 Yin Metal	巳 Snake	辛巳	Feb 3 1821 – Jan 22 1822	Jan 30 1881 – Feb 17 1882	Jan 27 1941 – Feb 14 1942	Jan 24 2001 – Feb 11 2002
19	壬 Yang Water	午 Horse	壬午	Jan 23 1822 – Feb 10 1823	Feb 18 1882 – Feb 7 1883	Feb 15 1942 – Feb 04 1943	Feb 12 2002 – Jan 31 2003
20	癸 Yin Water	未 Goat	癸未	Feb 11 1823 – Jan 30 1824	Feb 8 1883 – Jan 27 1884	Feb 05 1943 – Jan 24 1944	Feb 01 2003 – Jan 21 2004
21	甲 Yang Wood	申 Monkey	甲申	Jan 30 1824 – Feb 17 1825	Jan 28 1884 – Feb 14 1885	Jan 25 1944 – Feb 12 1945	Jan 22 2004 – Feb 08 2005
22	乙 Yin Wood	酉 Rooster	乙酉	Feb 18 1825 – Feb 6 1826	Feb 15 1885 – Feb 3 1886	Feb 13 1945 – Feb 01 1946	Feb 09 2005 – Jan 28 2006
23	丙 Yang Fire	戌 Dog	丙戌	Feb 7 1826 – Jan 26 1827	Feb 4 1886 – Jan 23 1887	Feb 02 1946 – Jan 21 1947	Jan 29 2006 – Feb 17 2007
24	丁 Yin Fire	亥 Pig	丁亥	Jan 27 1827 – Feb 14 1828	Jan 24 1887 – Feb 11 1888	Jan 22 1947 – Feb 09 1948	Feb 18 2007 – Feb 03 2008
25	戊 Yang Earth	子 Rat	戊子	Feb 14 1828 – Feb 3 1829	Feb 12 1888 – Jan 30 1889	Feb 10 1948 – Jan 28 1949	Feb 07 2008 – Jan 25 2009
26	己 Yin Earth	丑 Ox	己丑	Feb 4 1829 – Jan 24 1830	Jan 31 1889 – Jan 20 1890	Jan 29 1949 – Feb 16 1950	Jan 26 2009 – Feb 13 2010
27	庚 Yang Metal	寅 Tiger	庚寅	Jan 25 1830 – Feb 12 1831	Jan 21 1890 – Feb 08 1891	Feb 17 1950 – Feb 05 1951	Feb 14 2010 – Feb 02 2011
28	辛 Yin Metal	卯 Rabbit	辛卯	Feb 13 1831 – Feb 1 1832	Feb 09 1891 – Jan 29 1892	Feb 06 1951 – Jan 26 1952	Feb 03 2011 – Jan 22 2012
29	壬 Yang Water	辰 Dragon	壬辰	Feb 2 1832 – Feb 19 1833	Jan 30 1892 – Feb 16 1893	Jan 27 1952 – Feb 13 1953	Jan 23 2012 – Feb 09 2013
30	癸 Yin Water	巳 Snake	癸巳	Feb 20 1833 – Feb 8 1834	Feb 17 1893 – Feb 5 1894	Feb 14 1953 – Feb 02 1954	Feb 10 2013 – Jan 30 2014
31	甲 Yang Wood	午 Horse	甲午	Feb 9 1834 – Jan 28 1835	Feb 6 1894 – Jan 25 1895	Feb 03 1954 – Jan 23 1955	Jan 31 2014 – Feb 18 2015
32	乙 Yin Wood	未 Goat	乙未	Jan 29 1835 – Feb 16 1836	Jan 26 1895 – Feb 12 1896	Jan 24 1955 – Feb 11 1956	Feb 19 2015 – Feb 07 2016
33	丙 Yang Fire	申 Monkey	丙申	Feb 17 1836 – Feb 4 1837	Feb 13 1896 – Feb 01 1897	Feb 12 1956 – Jan 30 1957	Feb 08 2016 – Jan 27 2017
34	丁 Yin Fire	酉 Rooster	丁酉	Feb 5 1837 – Jan 25 1838	Feb 02 1897 – Jan 21 1898	Jan 31 1957 – Feb 17 1958	Jan 28 2017 – Feb 15 2018
35	戊 Yang Earth	戌 Dog	戊戌	Jan 26 1838 – Feb 13 1839	Jan 22 1898 – Feb 09 1899	Feb 18 1958 – Feb 07 1959	Feb 16 2018 – Feb 04 2019
36	己 Yin Earth	亥 Pig	己亥	Feb 14 1839 – Feb 2 1840	Feb 10 1899 – Jan 30 1900	Feb 08 1959 – Jan 27 1960	Feb 05 2019 – Jan 24 2020
37	庚 Yang Metal	子 Rat	庚子	Feb 3 1840 – Jan 22 1841	Jan 31 1900 – Feb 18 1901	Jan 28 1960 – Feb 14 1961	Jan 25 2020 – Feb 11 2021
38	辛 Yin Metal	丑 Ox	辛丑	Jan 23 1841 – Feb 9 1842	Feb 19 1901 – Feb 07 1902	Feb 15 1961 – Feb 04 1962	Feb 12 2021 – Jan 31 2022
39	壬 Yang Water	寅 Tiger	壬寅	Feb 10 1842 – Jan 29 1843	Feb 08 1902 – Jan 28 1903	Feb 05 1962 – Jan 24 1963	Feb 01 2022 – Jan 21 2023
40	癸 Yin Water	卯 Rabbit	癸卯	Jan 30 1843 – Feb 17 1844	Jan 29 1903 – Feb 15 1904	Jan 25 1963 – Feb 12 1964	Jan 22 2023 – Feb 09 2024
41	甲 Yang Wood	辰 Dragon	甲辰	Feb 18 1844 – Feb 6 1845	Feb 16 1904 – Feb 03 1905	Feb 13 1964 – Feb 01 1965	Feb 10 2024 – Jan 28 2025
42	乙 Yin Wood	巳 Snake	乙巳	Feb 7 1845 – Jan 26 1846	Feb 04 1905 – Jan 24 1906	Feb 02 1965 – Jan 20 1966	Jan 29 2025 – Feb 16 2026
43	丙 Yang Fire	午 Horse	丙午	Jan 27 1846 – Feb 14 1847	Jan 25 1906 – Feb 12 1907	Jan 21 1966 – Feb 08 1967	Feb 17 2026 – Feb 05 2027
44	丁 Yin Fire	未 Goat	丁未	Feb 15 1847 – Feb 4 1848	Feb 13 1907 – Feb 01 1908	Feb 09 1967 – Jan 29 1968	Feb 06 2027 – Jan 25 2028
45	戊 Yang Earth	申 Monkey	戊申	Feb 5 1848 – Jan 23 1849	Feb 02 1908 – Jan 21 1909	Jan 30 1968 – Feb 16 1969	Jan 26 2028 – Feb 12 2029
46	己 Yin Earth	酉 Rooster	己酉	Jan 24 1849 – Feb 11 1850	Jan 22 1909 – Feb 09 1910	Feb 17 1969 – Feb 05 1970	Feb 13 2029 – Feb 02 2030
47	庚 Yang Metal	戌 Dog	庚戌	Feb 12 1850 – Jan 31 1851	Feb 10 1910 – Jan 29 1911	Feb 06 1970 – Jan 26 1971	Feb 03 2030 – Jan 22 2031
48	辛 Yin Metal	亥 Pig	辛亥	Feb 1 1851 – Feb 19 1852	Jan 30 1911 – Feb 17 1912	Jan 27 1971 – Feb 14 1972	Jan 23 2031 – Feb 10 2032
49	壬 Yang Water	子 Rat	壬子	Feb 20 1852 – Feb 7 1853	Feb 18 1912 – Feb 05 1913	Feb 15 1972 – Feb 02 1973	Feb 11 2032 – Jan 30 2033
50	癸 Yin Water	丑 Ox	癸丑	Feb 8 1853 – Jan 28 1854	Feb 06 1913 – Jan 25 1914	Feb 03 1973 – Jan 22 1974	Jan 31 2033 – Feb 18 2034
51	甲 Yang Wood	寅 Tiger	甲寅	Jan 29 1854 – Feb 16 1855	Jan 26 1914 – Feb 13 1915	Jan 23 1974 – Feb 10 1975	Feb 19 2034 – Feb 07 2035
52	乙 Yin Wood	卯 Rabbit	乙卯	Feb 17 1855 – Feb 5 1856	Feb 14 1915 – Feb 02 1916	Feb 11 1975 – Jan 30 1976	Feb 08 2035 – Jan 27 2036
53	丙 Yang Fire	辰 Dragon	丙辰	Feb 6 1856 – Jan 25 1857	Feb 03 1916 – Jan 22 1917	Jan 31 1976 – Feb 17 1977	Jan 28 2036 – Feb 14 2037
54	丁 Yin Fire	巳 Snake	丁巳	Jan 26 1857 – Feb 13 1858	Jan 23 1917 – Feb 10 1918	Feb 18 1977 – Feb 06 1978	Feb 15 2037 – Feb 03 2038
55	戊 Yang Earth	午 Horse	戊午	Feb 14 1858 – Feb 2 1859	Feb 11 1918 – Jan 31 1919	Feb 07 1978 – Jan 27 1979	Feb 04 2038 – Jan 23 2039
56	己 Yin Earth	未 Goat	己未	Feb 3 1859 – Jan 22 1860	Feb 01 1919 – Feb 19 1920	Jan 28 1979 – Feb 15 1980	Jan 24 2039 – Feb 11 2040
57	庚 Yang Metal	申 Monkey	庚申	Jan 23 1860 – Feb 9 1861	Feb 20 1920 – Feb 07 1921	Feb 16 1980 – Feb 04 1981	Feb 12 2040 – Jan 31 2041
58	辛 Yin Metal	酉 Rooster	辛酉	Feb 10 1861 – Jan 29 1862	Feb 08 1921 – Jan 27 1922	Feb 05 1981 – Jan 24 1982	Feb 01 2041 – Jan 21 2042
59	壬 Yang Water	戌 Dog	壬戌	Jan 30 1862 – Feb 17 1863	Jan 28 1922 – Feb 15 1923	Jan 25 1982 – Feb 12 1983	Jan 22 2042 – Feb 09 2043
60	癸 Yin Water	亥 Pig	癸亥	Feb 18 1863 – Feb 7 1864	Feb 16 1923 – Feb 04 1924	Feb 13 1983 – Feb 01 1984	Feb 10 2043 – Jan 29 2044

Detailed calendar from Meiji to today

2017-01-05T14:15:31Z

Japanese detailed calendar from Meiji to today

明治
1867　

大正
1911　

昭和
1925　

平成
1988　

㋿
2019　

和暦	西暦
明治 1	1868 9/ 8～
明治 2	1869
明治 3	1870
明治 4	1871
明治 5	1872
明治 6	1873
明治 7	1874
明治 8	1875
明治 9	1876
明治10	1877
明治11	1878
明治12	1879
明治13	1880
明治14	1881
明治15	1882
明治16	1883
明治17	1884
明治18	1885
明治19	1886
明治20	1887
明治21	1888
明治22	1889
明治23	1890
明治24	1891
明治25	1892
明治26	1893
明治27	1894
明治28	1895
明治29	1896
明治30	1897
明治31	1898
明治32	1899
明治33	1900
明治34	1901
明治35	1902
明治36	1903
明治37	1904
明治38	1905
明治39	1906
明治40	1907
明治41	1908
明治42	1909
明治43	1910
明治44	1911
明治45	1912 ～7/30

和暦	西暦
大正 1	1912 7/30～
大正 2	1913
大正 3	1914
大正 4	1915
大正 5	1916
大正 6	1917
大正 7	1918
大正 8	1919
大正 9	1920
大正10	1921
大正11	1922
大正12	1923
大正13	1924
大正14	1925
大正15	1926 ～12/25

和暦	西暦
昭和 1	1926 12/25～
昭和 2	1927
昭和 3	1928
昭和 4	1929
昭和 5	1930
昭和 6	1931
昭和 7	1932
昭和 8	1933
昭和 9	1934
昭和10	1935
昭和11	1936
昭和12	1937
昭和13	1938
昭和14	1939
昭和15	1940
昭和16	1941
昭和17	1942
昭和18	1943
昭和19	1944
昭和20	1945
昭和21	1946
昭和22	1947
昭和23	1948
昭和24	1949
昭和25	1950
昭和26	1951
昭和27	1952
昭和28	1953
昭和29	1954
昭和30	1955
昭和31	1956
昭和32	1957
昭和33	1958
昭和34	1959
昭和35	1960
昭和36	1961
昭和37	1962
昭和38	1963
昭和39	1964
昭和40	1965
昭和41	1966
昭和42	1967
昭和43	1968
昭和44	1969
昭和45	1970
昭和46	1971
昭和47	1972
昭和48	1973
昭和49	1974
昭和50	1975
昭和51	1976
昭和52	1977
昭和53	1978
昭和54	1979
昭和55	1980
昭和56	1981
昭和57	1982
昭和58	1983
昭和59	1984
昭和60	1985
昭和61	1986
昭和62	1987
昭和63	1988
昭和64	1989 ～1/ 7

和暦	西暦
平成 1	1989 1/ 7～
平成 2	1990
平成 3	1991
平成 4	1992
平成 5	1993
平成 6	1994
平成 7	1995
平成 8	1996
平成 9	1997
平成10	1998
平成11	1999
平成12	2000
平成13	2001
平成14	2002
平成15	2003
平成16	2004
平成17	2005
平成18	2006
平成19	2007
平成20	2008
平成21	2009
平成22	2010
平成23	2011
平成24	2012
平成25	2013
平成26	2014
平成27	2015
平成28	2016
平成29	2017
平成30	2018
平成31	2019 ～5/ 1

和暦	西暦
㋿ 1	2019 5/ 1～
㋿ 2	2020
㋿ 3	2021
㋿ 4	2022
㋿ 5	2023
㋿ 6	2024
㋿ 7	2025
㋿ 8	2026