Hōgen (era) facts for kids

Hōgen (保元) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Kyūju and before Heiji. This period started in April 1156 and ended in April 1159. The reigning emperors were Emperor Go-Shirakawa-tennō (後白河天皇) and Emperor Nijō-tennō (二条天皇).

Events of the Hōgen era

• 20 July 1156 (Hōgen 1, 2nd day of the 7th month): Former-Emperor Toba died at age 54.

• 28 July–16 August 1156 (Hōgen 1, 10th-29th days of the 7th month): The Hōgen Rebellion, also known as the Hōgen Insurrection or the Hōgen War.

• 1156 (Hōgen 1, 9th month): A special building was constructed in Kyoto, where—as in the days of Emperor Go-Sanjo, requests and complaints were received and examined.

• 1157 (Hōgen 2, 10th month): The foundations are laid for a grand audience hall (dairi) in the palace. Three had not been such a structure within the palace compound since the time of Emperor Shirakawa.

• 6 August 1158 (Hōgen 3, 11th day of the 8th month): In the 3rd year of Go-Shirakawa's reign, the emperor abdicated. The succession (senso) was received by his eldest son.

• 1158 (Hōgen 4, 8th month): Emperor Nijō is officially established as monarch (sokui).

The Tale of Hōgen is about this era. The work tells the story of the samurai who were part of the Hōgen Rebellion. Along with the Tale of Heiji and the Tale of Heike, these three war stories tell about the rise and fall of the Minamoto clan and the Taira clan.

Related pages

• Heian period

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection