Ōei


Ōei was a Japanese era name after Meitoku and before Shōchō. This period spanned the years from July 1394 through April 1428. Reigning emperors were Emperor Go-Komatsu and Emperor Shōkō.

Change of era

  • 1394 Ōei gannen: The new era name was created because of plague. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Meitoku 5, the 5th day of the 7th month.

    Events of the ''Ōei'' era

  • 1394 : Yoshimitsu officially cedes his position to his son;
  • 1396 : Imagawa Sadayo dismissed.
  • 1397 : Uprising in Kyūshū suppressed.
  • May 13, 1397 : Construction begun on Kinkaku-ji.
  • 1397 : an Imperial ambassador is dispatched from Emperor Go-Komatsu to the court of the Hongwu Emperor of China.
  • September 1398 : In the early autumn in the 6th year of the reign of King Taejong of Joseon, a diplomatic mission was sent to Japan. Pak Ton-ji and his retinue arrived in Kyoto. Shōgun Yoshimochi presented the envoy with a formal diplomatic letter; and presents were given for the envoy to convey to the Joseon court.
  • 1398 Muromachi administration organized.
  • November 18, 1399 : begins. Ōuchi Yoshihiro raises an army against shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu; and the Ashikaga forces prevail against this opposition.
  • 1399 : Ōuchi Yoshihiro and Ashikaga Mitsukane rebel—Ōei War.
  • 1401 : The Imperial Palace was burned.
  • 1401 : Yoshimitsu sends a diplomatic mission to the court of the Jianwen Emperor of China as a tentative first step in re-initiating trade between Japan and Ming China. The letter conveyed to the Emperor of China was accompanied by a gift of 1000 ounces of gold and diverse objects.
  • 1402 : A letter from the Jianwen Emperor of China was received by Yoshimitsu; and this formal communication mistakenly accords the title "king of Japan" to the Japanese shōgun.
  • 1402 : Uprising in Mutsu suppressed.
  • 1404 : Yoshimitsu appointed Nippon Koku-Ō by Chinese emperor.
  • 1408 : Yoshimitsu dies.
  • 1408 : Yoshimochi comes into his own as a shōgun.
  • 1409 : An ambassador from the Joseon court was received in Kyoto.
  • 1409 : Ashikaga Mochiuji becomes Kantō kubō.
  • 1411 : Yoshimochi breaks off relations with China.
  • 1412 : Emperor Shōkō was made the new sovereign upon the abdication of his father, Emperor Go-Komatsu. His actual coronation date was two years later. Shōkō was only 12 years old when he began living in the daïri; but Go-Komatsu, as a Cloistered Emperor still retained direction of the court and the shōgun was charged with the general superintendence of affairs until his death at age 57 in 1433.
  • 1413 : Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimochi fell ill, and so he sent an ambassador to the Ise Shrine to pray for the return of his health.
  • 1413 : Emperor Go-Komatsu abdicates; Emperor Shōkō ascends throne in repudiation of agreement; renewed hostility between shogunate and supporters of Southern Court.
  • January 29, 1415 : Enthronement of Emperor Shōkō.
  • 1415 : Dissension between Mochiuji, the Kantō Kubō at Kamakura, and Uesugi Zenshū.
  • 1416 : Uesugi rebels.
  • 1417 : Uesugi's rebellion quelled by Mochiuji.
  • 1418 : Rebuilding of Asama Shrine at the base of Mount Fuji in Suruga Province is ordered by Ashikaga Yoshimochi.
  • July 18, 1419 : Ōei Invasion was a Joseon military action in Tsushima Province. The Joseon military forces were focused on the pirates which had established bases from which to raid the coastline of the Korean peninsula. More than 200 ships and 17,000 fighting men took part in this military expedition.
  • 1420 : Serious famine with great loss of life.
  • 1422 : Resuragence of southern supporters.
  • 1423 : Shōgun Yoshimochi retires in favor of his son, Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, who is 17 years old.
  • 1424 : Go-Kameyama dies.
  • March 17, 1425 : Shōgun Yoshikatsu died at the age of 19 years, having administered the empire for only three years.
  • 1425 : After Yoshikazu dies, Yoshimochi resumes the responsibilities of office.
  • 1428 : Yoshimochi dies; Shōkō dies; Go-Hanazono ascends throne in second repudiation of agreement.