Gengo
/ˈɡeŋɡoʊ/noun
A Japanese era name used to identify periods associated with an emperor’s reign.
Did you know?The Japanese gengo system began in 645 CE with the era name Taika, and some people still use gengo dates on official documents alongside Western calendar years.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Classical Chinese
元号
“An era designation or reign-period name; literally, a foundational or beginning designation.”
7th Century
Japanese
年号 (nengō)
“A named imperial era or period of years.”
645 CE
Japanese
大化 (Taika)
“The first officially recognized Japanese era name, meaning “Great Change.””
8th Century
Japanese
元号 (gengō)
“A standardized term for an imperial era name, with 元号 eventually pronounced gengō in Japanese.”
1868
Japanese
明治 (Meiji)
“The era name introduced with Emperor Meiji; the modern one-era-per-reign system was established.”
Modern English
English
gengo
“A Japanese imperial era name, used mainly in historical, cultural, and Japan-related writing.”