Meiwa facts for kids

Meiwa (明和) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Hōreki and before An'ei. This period started in June 1764 and ended in November 1772. During this time, the empress and emperor were Go-Sakuramachi-tennō (後桜町天皇) and Go-Momozono-tennō (後桃園天皇).

The nengō Meiwa means "Radiant Harmony".

Events of the Meiwa Era

Coins minted during the Meiwa era

• 1766 (Meiwa 3): A plan to remove the Shogun was not successful.

• 1770 (Meiwa 7): A typhoon flattened the newly built Imperial Palace in Kyoto.

• 1770 (Meiwa 7): A great comet (Lexell's Comet) with a very long tale lit up the night skies throughout the summer and autumn.

• 1770 (Meiwa 7): This was the start of 15 years of drought in Japan.

• 9 January 1771: Empress Go-Sakuramachi abdicated; ; and the succession passed to her nephew (senso). Soon after, Emperor Go-Momozono's role as monarch was confirmed by ceremonies (sokui).

• 29 February 1772 (Meiwa 9, 26th day or the 1st month): "The Great Meiwa Fire" -- one of the three greatest Edo fire disasters.

• 2 August 1772 (Meiwa 9, 4th day of the 6th month): A big storm in the Kantō with floods and lost crops.

• 17 August 1772 (Meiwa 9, 19th day of the 6th month): A major storm destroys 4000 houses in Edo.

Related pages

• Edo period

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