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Hakuchi (白雉) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. "year name") after the Taika era and before Shuchō. This period spanned the years from February 650 through December 654.^[1] The reigning emperor was Kōtoku-tennō (孝徳天皇).^[2]

History

The era began in 650, the sixth year of the Taika era, which was thus known as Hakuchi gannen (白雉元年, "Hakuchi start").^[3] The daimyō of Nagato Province brought a white pheasant to the court as a gift for the emperor. This white pheasant was then construed as a good omen. Emperor Kōtoku was extraordinarily pleased by this special avian rarity, and he wanted the entire court to see this white bird for themselves. He commanded a special audience in which he could formally invite the sadaijin and the udaijin to join him in admiring the rare bird; and on this occasion, the emperor caused the nengō to be changed to Hakuchi (meaning "white pheasant").^[4]

In Japan, this was the second nengō,^[1] derived from the Chinese system of eras (nianhao);^[5] although some scholarly doubt has been cast on the authenticity of Taika and Hakuchi as historically legitimate era names.^[6]

Timeline

Timelines of early Japanese nengō and Imperial reign dates

The system of Japanese era names was not the same as Imperial reign dates.

Events of the Hakuchi era

• 650 (Hakuchi 1): Kōtoku commanded that all prisoners were to be granted liberty throughout the country.^[4]
• 654 (Hakuchi 5, 1st month): A great number of rats moved into the province of Yamato; and this was construed as a sign that the capital should be moved.^[3]
• 654 (Hakuchi 5): Kōtoku died at the age of 59 after a reign of 10 years—five years during Taika, and five years during Hakuchi.^[7]