Kanbun (era)

Kanbun was a Japanese era name after Manji and before Enpō. This period spanned the years from April 1661 to September 1673. The reigning emperors were Emperor Go-Sai and Emperor Reigen.

Change of era

1661 Kanbun gannen: The new era name of Kanbun was created to mark a number of disasters, including a great fire at the Imperial Palace. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Manji 4.

Events of the ''Kanbun'' era

March 20, 1662 : There was a violent earthquake in Heian-kyō which destroyed the tomb of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.1662 : Emperor Gosai ordered Tosa Hiromichi, a Tosa-school disciple, to adopt the name Sumiyoshi, probably in reference to a 13th-century painter, Sumiyoshi Keinin, upon assuming a position as official painter for the Sumiyoshi Taisha.March 5, 1663 : Go-sai abdicated in favor of his younger brother, Satohito, aged 10; and then he lived in complete retirement until his death.June 6, 1663 : An earthquake struck in Ōmi Province.1665 : Courts of inquiry were established in all the villages of the empire. These courts were charged with discovering the faith of the inhabitants, and their express purpose was to discover and eradicate all remnants of Christianity and Christian believers in Japan.1668 : A major fire broke out in Edo—a conflagration lasting 45 days. The disastrous fire was attributed to arson. Residents of Edo and later historians of the period also called this the fire of the eighth year of Kanbun.1669 : An Ainu rebellion, Shakushain's Revolt, breaks out in Hokkaido against the Matsumae clan1670 : The Bonin Islands are discovered by the Japanese when a ship bound for Edo from Kyūshū is blown off course by a storm.