Bunroku

Bunroku (文禄) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō; "year name") after Tenshō and before Keichō. This period spanned the years from December 1592 to October 1596.^[1] The reigning emperor was Go-Yōzei-tennō (後陽成天皇).^[2]

Change of era

• 1592 Bunroku gannen (文禄元年): The era name was changed. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Tenshō 20.

Events of the Bunroku era

• 1592 (Bunroku 1): Toyotomi Hideyoshi invades Korea (Bunroku no Eki),^[3] also known as Bunroku Keichō no Eki.^[1]
• 1592 (Bunroku 1): Ogasawara Sadayori claims to have discovered the Bonin Islands; and the territory was granted to him as a fief by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.^[4]
• 1592 (Bunroku 1): Silver coins called Bunroku-tsūhō were minted to pay Hideyoshi's troops. The 23.25 mm diameter coins weighed 1 momme (approximately 3.75 g). Copper coins were issued at the same time, but none are known to have survived.^[1]
• 1593 (Bunroku 2): Toyotomi Hideyori is born to Hideyoshi's mistress Yodo-Dono—an infant son and possible heir.^[5]
• 1595 (Bunroku 4): Toyotomi Hidetsugu loses his position and power.^[6]

• 1589-1595: An agrarian reform (Bunroku no Kenchi) initiated by Hideyoshi; a general census of the population and a national survey.^[1]