Shōchō

Shōchō (正長) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, "year name") after Ōei and before Eikyō, from April 1428 until September 1429.^[1] The reigning emperors were Shōkō-tennō (称光天皇) and Go-Hanazono-tennō (後花園天皇).^[2]

Change of era

1428 Shōchō gannen (正長元年): The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Ōei 35.

Events of the Shōchō era

February 3, 1428 (Shōchō 1, 18th day of the 1st month): Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimochi, having taken power again after the death of his son, dies himself at the age of 43.^[3]
August, 1428 (Shōchō 1, 7th month): Shocho Uprising begins.
August 30, 1428 (Shōchō 1, 20th day of the 7th month): Emperor Shōkō died at the age of 27.^[4] Nihon Ōdai Ichiran suggests a cause of death by explaining: "Ce prince, s'occupait de magie et du culte de démons, mena une vie pure, et observa rigoureusement l'abstinence et le jeûne." [This prince, who occupied himself with magic and the cult of demons, led a pure life, and rigorously observed abstinence and fasting.]^[5]
September 7, 1428 (Shōchō 1, 29th day of the 7th month): Emperor Go-Hanazono accedes to the throne at age 10.^[6]

Notes

^ Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Shōchō" in Japan encyclopedia, p. 877; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File Archived 2012-05-24 at archive.today.
^ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 327–331.
^ Titsingh, pp. 330-331.
^ Titsingh, p. 331.
^ Titsingh, p. 331; and note also: p. 366 n3 -- " 法魔 (Muo-fa), or the science of demons, is the name the Chinese and the Japanese give to a specific "magic" discipline. Those who follow its rigorous regime of practice abandon all relationships with women. They are persuaded that by guarding their purity of focused attention, they can execute their magic arts with precision and success."
^ Titsingh, p. 331-332.

References

Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301
Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai 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

Preceded by Ōei	Era or nengō Shōchō 1428–1429	Succeeded by Eikyō

[1] Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Shōchō" in Japan encyclopedia, p. 877; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, see Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File Archived 2012-05-24 at archive.today.

[2] Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, pp. 327–331.

[3] Titsingh, pp. 330-331.

[4] Titsingh, p. 331.

[5] Titsingh, p. 331; and note also: p. 366 n3 -- " 法魔 (Muo-fa), or the science of demons, is the name the Chinese and the Japanese give to a specific "magic" discipline. Those who follow its rigorous regime of practice abandon all relationships with women. They are persuaded that by guarding their purity of focused attention, they can execute their magic arts with precision and success."

[6] Titsingh, p. 331-332.

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