Meireki

was a of the Edo period, after the Jōō era and before Manji era. This era's period spanned the years from April 1655 to July 1658.

The reigning emperor was .

Change of era

• 1655 : The era name was changed to mark the enthronement of Emperor Go-Sai. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Jōō 4, on the 13th day of the 4th month.

The source of the new era name was:

• From the Book of Han: "With the Nine Chapters of the Great Law, the five eras will be known" (大法九章、而五紀明歴法)
• From the Book of the Later Han: "The Yellow Emperor began the passing of time, so that is why the character æ­´ [passing of time] and 暦 [rhythmic cycle] are used together" (黄帝造歴、歴与暦同作)

Events of the Meireki era

• 1655 (Meireki 1): The new ambassador of Korea, arrived in Japan.
• 1655 (Meireki 1): The ex-Emperor went for the first time to Shugakuin RikyÅ«.
• March 2–3, 1657 (Meireki 3, 18th-19th days of the 1st month): The city of Edo was devastated by the Great Fire of Meireki.

Notes

References

• Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; OCLC 48943301
• Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794–1869. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society.
• Screech, Timon. (2006). Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822. London: RoutledgeCurzon. ; OCLC 65177072
• 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

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
• National Archives of Japan ...Click link for map of Edo before disastrous fire in 3rd year of Meiwa (1657)
• National Archives of Japan ...Click link for photograph of Ryogoku bridge (1875), first built over Sumida River after Meireki fire