Overview
Chōshō (長承) is a Japanese era name or nengō that succeeded Tenshō and preceded Hōen. The era began in August 1132 and ended in November 1135. The reigning sovereign during Chōshō was Emperor Sutoku (崇徳天皇). Like other era names, Chōshō was used to mark official years in court records, temple inscriptions, legal documents and private diaries.
Historical context
Chōshō falls within the late Heian period, a time when cultural life at the imperial court in Kyoto remained influential even as political power increasingly involved leading aristocratic families and rising provincial military households. Short eras such as Chōshō are typical of the 12th century and reflect how the court used era-name changes to signal political or ritual renewal.
Nengō system and calendar usage
The nengō system assigns a name to a span of years; years within an era are counted from its first year (for example, Chōshō 1 corresponds to part of 1132). Era names could be changed for a variety of reasons: auspicious omens, natural disasters, deaths in the imperial family, or political decisions intended to mark a fresh start. For historians, era names form the backbone of chronological ordering in premodern Japan.
Chronology and significance
- Era name: Chōshō (長承)
- Start: August 1132
- End: November 1135
- Reigning emperor: Emperor Sutoku (崇徳天皇)
- Preceded by: Tenshō; Followed by: Hōen
Use in research and legacy
Although Chōshō was brief, era names like it are important to researchers because they structure chronological narratives in court diaries, temple records and provincial documents. Precise knowledge of when Chōshō began and ended helps date literary works, administrative acts and genealogies, and supports cross-referencing with contemporary Chinese or Western calendars. Modern scholarship routinely refers to era names when reconstructing political, social and cultural history of medieval Japan.