Hakuchi (era)

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Hakuchi (White Pheasant) was a Japanese era name after Taika and before Shuchō. It lasted from February 650 to December 654. The emperor during Hakuchi was Kōtoku-tennō. The era began when the Nagato Province daimyō sent a white pheasant to the court. The rare bird was seen as a good omen, and Emperor Kōtoku was so pleased that he invited the top two court officials to view it in a special audience. Because of this, the nengō was changed to Hakuchi, meaning “white pheasant.” Hakuchi is the second era name used in Japan, following the Chinese-style system of era names. Some scholars doubt the historical accuracy of Taika and Hakuchi as official era names. Also, era names did not always line up with emperors’ reigns.