Hakuchi (era)

was a  after the Taika era and before Shuchō in 686.  This period started in February 650 and ended in December 654.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hakuchi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 280.  The reigning emperor was .Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du japon, pp. 47-50.

History
In 650 (Taika 6,Brown, Delmer et al.. (1979). Gukanshō, p. 267.  The daimyo of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor.  It was considered to be a good omen, and the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant").Titsingh,   p. 49.

In Japan, this was the second nengō, which was developed from the Chinese system of eras (nianhao).Nussbaum, "Taika" at p. 924.   It became an example of growth in political power.Bialock, David T. (2007). Eccentric Spaces, Hidden Histories: Narrative, Ritual, and Royal Authority from the Chronicles of Japan to the Tale of the Heike, pp. 56-57; excerpt at p. 57, "Whether the era name of Taika and Hakuchi are viewed as evidence of an actual precedent set by Kōtoku or as the work of chroniclers belonging to a later reign around the time of Nihon Shoki 's editing, the practice of assigning era names inaugurated a new phase in the consolidation of the court's expanding political power."

Timeline

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the Hakuchi era
 650 (Hakuchi 1):  Kōtoku commanded that all prisoners were to be granted liberty throughout the country.
 654 (Hakuchi 5, 1st month): A great number of rats moved into Yamato Province; and this was construed as a sign that the capital should be moved.
 654 (Hakuchi 5): Kōtoku died at the age of 59 after a reign of 5 years during Taika and 5 years during Hakuchi.Titsingh,  p. 50; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki, p. 133; Imperial Household Agency (Kunaichō), 孝徳天皇 (36); retrieved 2012-6-13.

Related pages
 Asuka period

References

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


 Hakuchi  1st  2nd  3rd  4th   5th Gregorian  650  651  652  653  654
Preceded by:TaikaEra or nengō:HakuchiSucceeded by:——
Preceded by:——Imperial reign:Kōtoku period645654Succeeded by:Saimei period655661

Category:Japanese eras
Category:7th-century establishments in Japan
Category:7th-century disestablishments in Japan
Category:650s establishments
Category:650s disestablishments