Hakuchi (era)


Hakuchi was a Japanese era name after the Taika era and before Shuchō. This period spanned the years from February 650 through December 654. The reigning emperor was Emperor Kōtoku.

History

The era began in 650, the sixth year of the Taika era, which was thus known as Hakuchi gannen. The daimyō of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. This white pheasant was then construed as a good omen. Emperor Kōtoku was extraordinarily pleased by this special avian rarity, and he wanted the entire court to see this white bird for themselves. He commanded a special audience in which he could formally invite the sadaijin and the udaijin to join him in admiring the rare bird; and on this occasion, the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi.
In Japan, this was the second nengō, derived from the Chinese system of eras ; although some scholarly doubt has been cast on the authenticity of Taika and Hakuchi as historically legitimate era names.

Timeline

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the ''Hakuchi'' era