Kan'ei (寛永) was a Japanese era name (年号,, nengō,, lit. "year name") after Genna and before Shōhō. This period started in February 1624 and ended in December 1643.[1] During this time, the emperors and empress were Go-Mizunoo-tennō (後水尾天皇),[2] and Meishō-tennō (明正天皇).[3]
1638 (Kan'ei 15): Christian religion was made illegal in Japan.[6]
1643 (Kan'ei 20): An ambassador from the king of Korea was received in Heian-kyō.[8]
10 November 1643 (Kan'ei 20, 29th day of the 9th month): In the 15th year of Empress Meishō's reign (明正天皇15年), the empress abdicated; and her brother became Emperor Go-Komyō in ceremonies of senso and sokui.[8]
Hayashi Razan and his son wrote Kan'ei shoka kezuden in 1641-1643. The shogun ordered the writing of this history of the great clans of Japan.[7]
♯The Northern pretenders did not recognize the Genkō era. Gentoku was used in the Northern Court until 1332. ₪The Shōkyō era was recognized only by the Northern pretenders, not by the Southern Court. ‡ Upon reunification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392, Genchū was discontinued. Meitoku was used until 1394.