Talk:Japanese era name
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
At least the last four eras began when a new emperor ascended to the throne. Given that, on what basis does the article assert that the Japanese eras have nothing to do with the imperial system? And, at least as important, what are they based on? Vicki Rosenzweig 21:19 Mar 6, 2003 (UTC)
- They are indeed the 'names' of each emperor's rule. I have no idea why it's being claimed otherwise.
They are not. Meiji or Showa is a name of era. Because the emperor from meiji to now are not called by their given name, they are usually called the name of era when they regine such as Showa. Basically Japanese emperors are simply called majesty or something but not by the name. -- Taku 22:55 Mar 6, 2003 (UTC)
- The era and the emperor are referred to by the same name. This makes sense only because the era begins and ends when an emperor's reign does. So, again, on what basis does the article say there is no connection, and what are the eras based on?
- This doesn't mean there's any necessary connection with Shinto. After all, historians writing about England talk about the Elizabethan era, without implying that Elizabeth I of England was divine. But the era is named for the queen. Vicki Rosenzweig
Though I am not so sure, in my understanding, the name of recent emperors is based on the name of his era but not vice versa. Emperor Showa is called so only because his regin. As you see, the term of last four eras corresponds to the regin term of each emperor. Simply saying there is no connection at all is rather misconception. Actually, there is an imperial calender which is totally different from this during World War II or the period the Japanese emperor is considered divine. I also wanted to distinguish this. It was a dirty work, hoping someone knowing more would fix it. The text in the article sure need more work (unfortunatelly currently I can't edit the article) for more clarification. -- Taku 23:29 Mar 6, 2003 (UTC)
I don't think there is a concrete basis for chosing the name of era. For example, Tenshou was a simply requested by then ruler Oda Nobunaga according to his preference. -- Taku 23:36 Mar 6, 2003 (UTC)
Hello. I cannot solve all the problems, but trying to help on some.
Emperors since Meiji (Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei) are called as "(name of the Era) Tennou." But perhaps it is so only after they pass away. Mass media usually say "Tennou Heika" when they refer to the current emperor.
Hirohito is kind of like his first name (though the members of the emperial family does not have a "family name"), and it is probably too casual to address him as Hirohito. It may be kind of like saying "your majesty" in some cultures. (But I'm not sure.)
The name of the Heisei was announced after the passing away of Showa. Those thing has meanings. Showa meant something like bright& peaceful. It is an embodyment of hope that the era will become like that, as I recall.
And there is a law saying that gengou (name of an era) changes as emperors change. I don't know when it started, but my guess of course is from Meiji.
Taku, these sites may help?: [1] [2] [3]
Tomos 04:51 Mar 13, 2003 (UTC)
Honestly I don't know very much. I will look up sites you gave but I will appreciate anyone who rewrites the article. -- Taku 04:56 Mar 13, 2003 (UTC)
Taku, of some periods there were two Tennos, therefore two nengos! HuiHui
- Yeah. Basically an era name is not associated to the name of emperor aside from recent ones. -- Taku 05:33 Mar 13, 2003 (UTC)
Simple question. Does anyone believe putting literary meaning to each era name is a good idea? Like flat peace to Heisei. -- Taku 05:58 Mar 13, 2003 (UTC)
- no, rather, associate to Tenno to the nenkos. and attach the names of the shoguns, Kambyaku, prime ministers any way possible
- As a reader I would prefer knowing more histories behind these names, not the literary meaning found in dictionaries. -- User:kt2
Good idea. I agree with that. It takes some time thought. -- Taku 23:26 Mar 13, 2003 (UTC)
Do these eras start with the beginning of the year (whenever the Japanese put it) or on different dates? -- Error
- An era starts on the next day the previous era became null and void and is counted when the first day of a year, January 1 starts. For example, Showa has the 64th year but it ends on January 7th. Had Showa ended eight days earlier, on December 31, there would only have been 63 years for Showa. In theory, three or more era can share a year but this has never happened. Revth 09:53, 11 Oct 2004 (UTC)
[edit] Informations on Era
I'm currently dumping only the very basic era data from Japanese Wikipedia. After the list is completed, I'll go back and try to fill other informations like who the emperor was and where the era name was taken from. Revth 09:11, 22 Oct 2004 (UTC)
[edit] Selection of names
Who choses the names today? The Emperor? If so, what would happen in the theoretical case that a child ascended the throne (say, the succession law is changed to allow female succession, and Princess Aiko ascends the throne, in 2007 after the untimely deaths of her father and grandfather). Surely a 6-year-old couldn't chose an era name, so who would choose it? The regent? Or would the era remain Heisei until she came of age? If the latter, what would her posthumous name be if, in another unlucky blow, she were to die in childhood? Nik42 07:01, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
- New era name is chosen by the Japanese government and established by a cabinet order. --Kusunose 08:34, 5 December 2005 (UTC)
Are there any laws which limit the number of kanji usable in Japanese era names? --88.76.236.181 18:16, 20 March 2007 (UTC)
