Keiō facts for kids

Keiō (慶応, historically 慶應) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Genji and before Meiji. The period started in April 1865 and ended in September 1868. During this time, the emperors were Kōmei-tennō (孝明天皇) and Meiji-tennō (明治天皇).

The nengō Keiō means "Joyous Concord"

Events of the Keiō era

Goryōkaku was built in the 2nd year of Keiō

• 1866 (Keiō 2): Construction of Goryōkaku star fort at Hakodate.

• 28 September 1866 (Keiō 2, 20th day of the 8th month): Tokugawa Iemochi died at Osaka; and Tokugawa Yoshinobu was named shogun.

• 10 January 1867 (Keiō 2, 5th day of the 12th month): Yoshinobu was formally established as shogun.

• 30 January 1867 (Keiō 2, 25th day of the 12th month): Kōmei died; and the succession passed to his son (senso).

• 10 November 1867 (Keiō 3, 15th day of the 10th month): An Imperial edict defines a restoration of Imperial government.

• 1868 (Keiō 4, 3rd of the 1st month): The Boshin War began with the Battle of Toba-Fushimi.

• 3 September 1868 (Keiō 4, 17th day of the 7th month): Edo was renamed "Tokyo", which means "Eastern Capital".

• 8 October 1868 (Keiō 4, 23rd of the 8th month): Battle of Aizu began.

• 12 October 1868 (Keiō 4, 27th day of the 8th month): Emperor Meiji's role as monarch was confirmed by ceremonies (sokui).

• 23 October 1868 (Keiō 4, 8th day of the 9th month): The nengō was formally changed from Keiō to Meiji; and a general amnesty was granted.

In 1868, the emperor moved his Imperial court to Tokyo; and Edo castle became an Imperial palace. In this way, the capital of Japan moved from Kyoto to Tokyo.

Keio University was named after this era. It is the oldest existing institution of higher learning in Japan.

Related pages

• Edo period

• National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" ...historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection
• National Archives of Japan Imperial standard and colors, Boshin War (1868)

See also

In Spanish: Keiō para niños