Editing Module:Wadō (era)

{{Short description|Period of Japanese history (708–715 CE)}}
{{History of Japan|Shoso-in.jpg| Image explanation = [[Shōsōin]]}}
{{nihongo|'''Wadō'''|和銅}} was a {{nihongo|[[Japanese era name]]|年号|''nengō''|"year name"}} after ''[[Keiun]]'' and before ''[[Reiki (era)|Reiki]]''.  This period spanned the years from January 708 through September 715.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "''Wadō''" in [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC&pg=PA1024  ''Japan encyclopedia'', p. 1024]; n.b., Louis-Frédéric is pseudonym of Louis-Frédéric Nussbaum, ''see'' [http://dispatch.opac.ddb.de/DB=4.1/PPN?PPN=128842709 Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Authority File].</ref> The reigning monarch was [[Empress Genmei]] (元明天皇, Genmei-tennō).<ref>Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  ''Annales des empereurs du Japon'', pp. 63]–65;  Brown, Delmer ''et al.'' (1979). ''Gukanshō'', p. 271; Varley, H. Paul. (1980). ''Jinnō Shōtōki.'' p. 140.</ref>

==Change of era==
* '''708''' {{nihongo|''Wadō gannen''|和銅元年}}:  The new era name ''Wadō'' (meaning "Japanese copper") was created because a high-quality [[copper mine]] was discovered in [[Chichibu, Saitama|Chichibu]] in [[Musashi Province]], what is now known as former Wado Mine.  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.<ref>Brown, p. 271; Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 63.]</ref>

[[File:Wadokaichin coin 8th century Japan.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Wadōkaichin]] (和同開珎) coin, 8th century, Japan.]]
The Japanese word for copper is {{Nihongo|''dō''|銅}}; 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 Province|Ōmi]];<ref name="pf56">Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan'', p. 56.</ref> and the ''Wadō'' era is famous for the  coin {{nihongo|''wadōkaihō/[[wadōkaichin]]''|和同開珎}}, which is recognized as the first Japanese currency. [http://www.mint.go.jp/eng/kids/history.html -- 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'')<!-- NengoCalc 和銅一年四月十一日 -->: A sample of the newly discovered copper from Musashi was presented in Gemmei's court where it was formally acknowledged as ''Japanese copper.''<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 63.]</ref>
* '''708''' (''Wadō 1, 3rd month''): {{nihongo|[[Fujiwara no Fuhito]]|藤原不比等}} is named ''Udaijin'' (Minister of the Right).  Iso-kami Marō is ''Sadaijin'' (Minister of the Left).<ref name="t64">Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 64.]</ref>
* '''709''' (''Wadō 2, 3rd month''): There was an uprising against governmental authority in [[Mutsu Province]] and in [[Echigo Province]].  Troops were promptly dispatched to subdue the revolt.<ref name="t64"/>
* '''709''' (''Wadō 2, 5th month''): Ambassadors arrived from [[Silla]], bringing an offer of tribute. He visited [[Fujiwara no Fuhito]] to prepare the way for further visits.<ref>Titsingh, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&dq=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran&pg=PP9  p. 64]; Aoki (1989: 149)Aoki, Kazuo ''et al.'' (1989). ''Shin Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 12: Shoku Nihongi I'', p. 149. (in Japanese).</ref>
* '''710''' (''Wadō 3, 3rd month''):  Empress Gemmei established her official residence in [[Nara, Nara|Nara]], which was known then as [[Heijō-kyō]].<ref name="pf56"/>  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.<ref name="t64"/>   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]].<ref name="v140">Varley, p. 140.</ref>
* Wadō 5, 1st month, 28th day (711): [[Ō no Yasumaro]] completes the ''[[Kojiki]]''<ref>Hioki (2007:250)</ref>
* '''712''' (''Wadō 5''): The [[Mutsu Province]] was separated from [[Dewa Province]].<ref name="t64"/>
* '''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]].<ref name="t64"/>
* Wadō 6, 5th month, 2nd day (713): imperial decree to compile ''[[Fudoki]]'' <ref>Hioki (2007:253)</ref>
* '''713''' (''Wadō 6''): The road which traverses [[Mino Province]] and [[Shinano Province]] was widened to accommodate travelers; and the road was widened in the [[Kiso District]] of modern [[Nagano Prefecture]].<ref name="t64"/>

After Empress Gemmei transferred the seat of her government to Nara, this mountain location remained the capital throughout the succeeding seven reigns.<ref name="v140" />  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.<ref name="pf56"/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* Brown, Delmer M. and Ichirō Ishida, eds. (1979). [https://books.google.com/books?id=w4f5FrmIJKIC&q=Gukansho  ''Gukanshō: The Future and the Past.''] Berkeley: University of California Press. {{ISBN|978-0-520-03460-0}}; {{OCLC|251325323}}
* Hioki, Eigō. (2007). {{nihongo|''Chronology of New National History,'' Vol. 1 |新・国史大年表. 第1卷 |Shin kokushi dainenpyō. dai 1 kan }}. Tōkyō: Kokusho Kankōkai. {{ISBN|9784336048264}}; {{OCLC|676118585}}
* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959). [https://books.google.com/books?id=SLAeAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Imperial+House+of+Japan  ''The Imperial House of Japan.''] Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. {{OCLC|194887}}
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; {{OCLC|58053128}}
* [[Isaac Titsingh|Titsingh, Isaac.]] (1834). ''[[Nihon Odai Ichiran]]''; ou, [https://books.google.com/books?id=18oNAAAAIAAJ&q=nipon+o+dai+itsi+ran  ''Annales des empereurs du Japon.'']  Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. {{OCLC|5850691}}
* [[H. Paul Varley|Varley, H. Paul]]. (1980). ''A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns: Jinnō Shōtōki of Kitabatake Chikafusa.'' New York: [[Columbia University Press]].  {{ISBN|9780231049405}}; {{OCLC|6042764}}

==External links==
* [[National Diet Library]], "The Japanese Calendar" [http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e/ -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| before =[[Keiun]]
| title = [[Japanese era name|Era or ''nengō'']]<br>Wadō
| years = 708–715
| after =[[Reiki (era)|Reiki]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Japanese era name}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wado}}
[[Category:Japanese eras]]
[[Category:700s in Japan]]
[[Category:710s in Japan]]
[[Category:700s beginnings]]
[[Category:708]]
[[Category:715 endings]]
[[Category:8th-century neologisms]]