Genbun

Genbun (元文) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name"), also Gembun, after Kyōhō and before Kanpō. This period started in April 1736 and ended in February 1741.^[1] During this time, the emperor was Sakuramachi-tennō (桜町天皇).^[2]

Events of the Genbun era

Gold coin minted during the Genbun era

• 1736 (Genbun 1): The shogunate published an edict declaring that henceforth, the sole, authorized coinage in the empire would be those copper coins which were marked on the obverse with the character 文 (pronounced bun in Japanese or pronounced wen in Chinese. This is to say, the same character which is found in this era name of Genbun).^[3]

• 1737 (Genbun 2, 11th month): A comet was seen in the western part of the sky.^[3]

• 10 May 1737 (Genbun 2, 11th day of the 4th month): Former-Emperor Nakamikado died.^[4]

• 1739 (Genbun 4): Iron coins were minted.^[3]

• 1739 (Genbun 4): Hosokawa Etchū-no-kami of Higo was killed in Edo castle by Itakura Katsukane. The murderer was ordered to kill himself.^[5]

• 8 August 1740 (Genbun 5, 16th day of the 7th month): Floodings in Heian-kyō (Kyoto). Sanjo Bridge (Sanjo-bashi) is washed away.^[6]

Related pages

• Edo period