書経
According to Obuchi, the name "Heisei" was taken from two Chinese history and philosophy books, namely "Records of the Grand Historian" () and the "Book of Documents" (). In the "Records of the Grand Historian", a sentence appears in a section honoring the wise rule of the legendary Chinese Emperor Shun, reading "" (Kanbun: , "Uchi tairaka ni soto naru"). In the "Book of Documents", the sentence "" (Kanbun: , "Chi tairaka ni ten naru", "peace on the heaven and earth") appears. By combining both meanings, Heisei is intended to mean "peace everywhere". The Heisei era went into effect immediately upon the day after Emperor Akihito's succession to the throne on 7 January 1989.