, also known as Kyōun, was a following Taihō and preceding Wadō. The period startedin May 704 and ended in January 708. The reigning emperors were and .
Events of the Keiun era
697 (Keiun 4): In the 11th year of Mommu's reign, the emperor died, but his son and heir was too young to receive the succession (senso). Instead, the mother of the heir became Japan's monarch until her son grew older. 18 July 707 (Keiun 4, 15th day of the 6th month): Gemmei's role as monarch is confirmed by ceremonies (sokui). She was aged 48. 707 (Keiun 4): Deposits of copper were found in Musashi Province. 708 (Keiun 5): The era name was changed to mark the beginning of the reign of Empress Gemmei; and Wadō as the new nengō mark the welcome discovery of copper in the Chichibu District of what is now Saitama Prefecture. The Japanese word for copper is dō (銅); and since this was indigenous copper, the "wa" (the ancient Chinese term for Japan) could be combined with the "dō" (copper) to create a new composite term — "wadō" — meaning "Japanese copper."
Related pages
Asuka period
References
Other websites
National Diet Library, "The Japanese Calendar" -- historical overview plus illustrative images from library's collection