This article is about the Japanese era name used during the reign of Emperor Hanazono from 1312 to 1317. For the Japanese era name used during the reign of
Emperor Shōwa, see
Shōwa era. For the Japanese era name used during the reign of Emperors
Junna and
Ninmyō, see
Jōwa (Heian period). For other uses, see
Shōwa (disambiguation).
Shōwa (正和) or Medieval Showa was a
Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. "year number") after Ōchō and before Bunpō. This period spanned the years from March 1312 through February 1317.[1] The reigning emperor was
Hanazono-tennō (花園天皇).[2]
Etymology
The era name is derived from the Old Book of Tang, a
Classical Chinese work composed in AD 941–945. The first character is shō (正), meaning "proper, straight, true",[3] while 和 (wa) means "peace," and may also
pun on
Wa (倭), an ancient name for
Japan.[4] The era name is pronounced like the
Shōwa era of 1926–1989, but that era name is written with the character 昭 ("illustrious") for shō.[5][6]
Change of era
1311Shōwa gannen (正和元年): The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events. The previous era ended and the new one commenced in Ōchō 2.
Events of the Shōwa era
Initially, former-
Emperor Fushimi administered the court up through the time he took the tonsure as a Buddhist monk.[7]
1313 (Shōwa 2, 10th month): Retired Emperor Fushimi shaved his head and became a Buddhist monk; and the power to administer the court of reigning Emperor Hanazono shifted to his adopted son, former-
Emperor Go-Fushimi.[8]
1315 (Shōwa 4, 7th month):
Hōjō Hirotoki dies in Kamakura; and initially, Hōjō Sadaaki and
Hōjō Mototoki share power.[9]
1315 (Shōwa 4, 10th month):
Hōjō Tokiatsu assumes the role of Rokuhara Tandai in the capital city.[9]
1316 (Shōwa 5, 7th month):
Hōjō Tokiatsu, who is the son of
Hōjō Sadaaki, takes on the role of
Shikken; and Hōjō Mototoki retires to a Buddhist monastery where he shaves his head.[9]