Tenmei (天明) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. year name), also known as Temmei, after An'ei and before Kansei. This period started in April 1781 and ended in January 1789. During this time, the emperor was Kōkaku-tennō (光格天皇).
The nengōTenmei means "Heavenly Radiance". The kanji means "dawn" or "daybreak".
Events of the Tenmei era
Map of Japan during the Tenmei era
1782 (Tenmei 2): Great Tenmei Famine began.
1782 (Tenmei 2): The emperor received a written study of silver currency in China and Japan. The work was made by Minamoto no Masatsuna.
1783 (Tenmei 3): Mount Asama (浅間山,, Asama-yama) erupted in Shinano Province and loss of life was estimated at 20,000+.
1783 (Tenmei 3): Famine was worse; food reserves used up
1784 (Tenmei 4): Nationwide events honored Kōbō-Daishi who was the founder of ShingonBuddhism. Kōbō-Daishi died 950 years earlier.
↑Screech, (2006), Secret Memoirs of the Shoguns: Isaac Titsingh and Japan, 1779-1822, pp. 146-148; Hall, John Whitney. (1955). Tanuma Okitsugu, 1719-1788: Forerunner of Modern Japan, p. 122.
↑Hall, John W.; Hall, John Whitney; Brown, Delmer M.; Jansen, Marius B.; McCullough, William H.; Kanai, Madoka; Shively, Donald H.; Yamamura, Kozo; Duus, Peter (1988). The Cambridge History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. p.21. ISBN978-0-521-22355-3.
♯The Northern pretenders did not recognize the Genkō era. Gentoku was used in the Northern Court until 1332. ₪The Shōkyō era was recognized only by the Northern pretenders, not by the Southern Court. ‡ Upon reunification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392, Genchū was discontinued. Meitoku was used until 1394.