Kankō (1004–1012): Heian period Japanese era name

Kankō (1004–1012) was a Heian-period Japanese era name used from July 1004 to December 1012, covering the reigns of Emperors Ichijō and Sanjō and following Chōhō before Chōwa.

Kankō (寛弘) was a Japanese era name (nengō) that began in July 1004 and ended in December 1012. It came after the Chōhō era and before Chōwa. The two sovereigns whose reigns fell within this interval were Emperor Ichijō (一条天皇) and Emperor Sanjō (三条天皇).

Overview

The nengō system assigns a name to a period of years and is used to mark official dates in Japan. Era names could be adopted for a variety of reasons, including to mark auspicious beginnings, respond to natural calamities, or reflect political decisions. The Kankō designation covers the years 1004–1012 in the Gregorian calendar and corresponds to events and court life in the late Heian period.

Rulers during the Kankō period

Emperor Ichijō (一条天皇) — was the sitting emperor at the start of Kankō. His long reign overlapped much of the late 10th and early 11th centuries.
Emperor Sanjō (三条天皇) — succeeded Ichijō during the Kankō era and continued as sovereign into the following period.

Chronological placement

Kankō is positioned in the sequence of Japanese era names between Chōhō and Chōwa, serving as the official era label used on documents and court records from mid-1004 until the end of 1012.