Tenmei

was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name), also known as Temmei, after An'ei and before Kansei.  This period started in April 1781 and ended in January 1789.  During this time, the emperor was .

The nengō Tenmei means "Heavenly Radiance". The kanji means "dawn" or "daybreak".

Events of the Tenmei era
 1782 (Tenmei 2): Great Tenmei Famine began.
 1782 (Tenmei 2): The emperor received a written study of silver currency in China and Japan.  The work was made by Minamoto no Masatsuna.
 1783 (Tenmei 3):  erupted in Shinano Province and loss of life was estimated at 20,000+.Screech, (2006), Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns:  Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822, pp. 146-148; Hall, John Whitney. (1955).  Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan, p. 122.
 1783 (Tenmei 3): Famine was worse; food reserves used upHall,  Tanuma Okitsugu, p. 170.
 1784 (Tenmei 4): Nationwide events honored Kōbō-Daishi who was the founder of Shingon Buddhism.  Kōbō-Daishi died 950 years earlier.
 1784 (Tenmei 4): The son of Tanuma Okitsugu was assassinated in Edo Castle.Screech, pp. 148-151, 163-170, 248.
 17 September 1786 (Tenmei 6, 25th day of the 8th month): Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu died and was buried in Edo.
 1787 (Tenmei 7): Tokugawa Ienari became the 11th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.
 1787 (Tenmei 7): Matsudaira Sadanobu becomes the shogunate's senior official (rōjū).
 1787 (Tenmei 7): Kutsuki Masatsuna published Seiyō senpu (Notes on Western Coinage).Screech, (2000). Shogun's Painted Culture: Fear and Creativity in the Japanese States, 1760-1829, pp. 123, 125; See -- online image of 2 adjacent pages from library collection of Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages
 1788 (Tenmei 7): Riots in rice shops in Edo and Osaka.
 1788 (Tenmei 8): Great Fire of Kyoto; the Imperial Palace was destroyed.

Related pages 
 Edo period

References

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

Tenmei1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th 17811782178317841785178617871788

Preceded by:An'eiEra or nengō:TenmeiSucceeded by:Kansei

Category:Japanese eras
Category:1781 establishments
Category:18th-century establishments in Japan
Category:1780s disestablishments
Category:18th-century disestablishments in Japan
Category:1780s establishments in Asia