Wadō (era)
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was a after '' Keiun'' and before '' Reiki''. This period spanned the years from January 708 through September 715. The reigning monarch was Empress Genmei (元明天皇, Genmei-tennō).


Change of era

* 708 : The new era name ''Wadō'' (meaning "Japanese copper") was created because a high-quality copper mine was discovered in Chichibu in Musashi Province, what is now known as Wadō Archaeological Site. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in the spring of ''Keiun'' 5, on the 11th day of the 1st month of 708. The Japanese word for copper is ; and since this was indigenous copper, the ''"wa"'' (the ancient Chinese term for Japan) could be combined with the ''"dō"'' (copper) to create a new composite term -- "''wadō''"—meaning "Japanese copper". A mint was established in the province of Ōmi;Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 56. and the ''Wadō'' era is famous for the coin , which is recognized as the first Japanese currency
-- see image of ''Wadō Kaichin'' from Japan Mint Museum


Events of the Wadō era

* 5 May 708 (''Wadō 1, 11th day of the 4th month''): A sample of the newly discovered copper from Musashi was presented in Gemmei's court where it was formally acknowledged as ''Japanese copper.'' * 708 (''Wadō 1, 3rd month''): is named ''Udaijin'' (Minister of the Right). Iso-kami Marō is ''Sadaijin'' (Minister of the Left).Titsingh
p. 64.
/ref> * 709 (''Wadō 2, 3rd month''): There was an uprising against governmental authority in Mutsu Province and in
Echigo Province was an old provinces of Japan, old province in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It bordered on Uzen Province, Uzen, Iwashiro Province, Iwashiro, Kōzuke Province, Kōzuke, Shinano Province, Shinano, and Etchū Province, ...
. Troops were promptly dispatched to subdue the revolt. * 709 (''Wadō 2, 5th month''): Ambassadors arrived from
Silla Silla (; Old Korean: wikt:徐羅伐#Old Korean, 徐羅伐, Yale romanization of Korean, Yale: Syerapel, Revised Romanization of Korean, RR: ''Seorabeol''; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) was a Korean kingdom that existed between ...
, bringing an offer of tribute. He visited Fujiwara no Fuhito to prepare the way for further visits. * 710 (''Wadō 3, 3rd month''): Empress Gemmei established her official residence in
Nara The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
, which was known then as Heijō-kyō. In the last years of the Mommu's reign, the extensive preparations for this projected move had begun; but the work could not be completed before the late-emperor's untimely death. Shortly after the ''nengō'' was changed to ''Wadō'', an imperial rescript was issued concerning the establishment of a new capital at the Heijō-kyō at Nara in Yamato Province. It had been customary since ancient times for the capital to be moved with the beginning of each new reign. However, Emperor Monmu decided not to move the capital, preferring instead to stay at the Fujiwara Palace which had been established by Empress Jitō.Varley, p. 140. * Wadō 5, 1st month, 28th day (711): Ō no Yasumaro completes the '' Kojiki'' * 712 (''Wadō 5''): The Mutsu Province was separated from Dewa Province. * 713 (''Wadō 6, 3rd month''): Tanba Province was separated from Tango Province; Mimasaka Province was divided from Bizen Province; and Hyūga Province was divided from Ōsumi Province. * Wadō 6, 5th month, 2nd day (713): imperial decree to compile '' Fudoki'' Hioki (2007:253) * 713 (''Wadō 6''): The road which traverses Mino Province and
Shinano Province or is an old province of Japan that is now Nagano Prefecture. Shinano bordered Echigo, Etchū, Hida, Kai, Kōzuke, Mikawa, Mino, Musashi, Suruga, and Tōtōmi Provinces. The ancient capital was located near modern-day Matsumoto, whi ...
was widened to accommodate travelers; and the road was widened in the Kiso District of modern
Nagano Prefecture is a Landlocked country, landlocked Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,007,682 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture ...
. After Empress Gemmei transferred the seat of her government to Nara, this mountain location remained the capital throughout the succeeding seven reigns. In a sense, the years of the Nara period developed into one of the more significant consequences of her comparatively short reign. After reigning for eight years, Empress Genmei abdicated in favor of her daughter.


Notes


References

* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979)
''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''
Berkeley: University of California Press. ; * Hioki, Eigō. (2007). . Tōkyō: Kokusho Kankōkai. ; * Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. * Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005)
''Japan encyclopedia.''
Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ; * Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). '' Nihon Odai Ichiran''; ou
''Annales des empereurs du Japon.''
Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. * Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.'' New York:
Columbia University Press Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's la ...
. ;


External links

* National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar
-- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wado Japanese eras 700s in Japan 710s in Japan 708 715 8th-century neologisms