Overview

Eiman (永万) was a Japanese era name, or nengō, used from June 1165 through August 1166. It followed the Chōkan era and preceded Nin'an. The period corresponds to the late Heian period and coincides with the early reign of Emperor Rokujō.

Characteristics and chronology

Era names in Japan were changed for a variety of reasons — to mark auspicious occurrences, natural disasters, political shifts, or other events judged significant by the court. Eiman covered slightly more than a year in the imperial calendar and is recorded in court chronicles and temple documents as a short bridging era in mid-12th century Japan.

Historical context

The Eiman era sits within a time of shifting power at the imperial court. The late Heian period saw growing influence of military clans, most notably the Taira, and the continuing practice of cloistered rule, in which retired emperors and leading courtiers exercised political authority behind the throne. Those wider political currents formed the backdrop for court life during Eiman.

Notable points

  • Dates: June 1165 – August 1166 (Japanese lunar calendar reckoning).
  • Emperor: Reigning sovereign recorded for this era is Emperor Rokujō.
  • Placement: Directly follows the Chōkan era and immediately precedes Nin'an in classical Japanese chronology.

Importance for historians

Although brief, the Eiman era is useful to scholars for dating documents and events in mid-12th-century Japan. Short era names like Eiman reflect the fluidity of court ritual and the symbolic importance attached to naming; they help historians align court records, religious inscriptions, and family chronicles with a precise sequence of years.

Further reading

For more on the system of era names and the surrounding political developments of the period, consult general studies of Japanese court history and Heian-era politics, including resources that treat the consecutive eras around Eiman such as Chōkan and Nin'an.