Manji (era)

Manji (万治) was a Japanese era name (年号) after Meireki and before Kanbun. This period spanned the years from July 1658 through April 1661. The reigning emperor was Go-Sai-tennō (後西天皇).

Change of era

 * 1658 Manji gannen (万治元年): The era name was changed to mark a disastrous, great fire in Edo. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Meireki 4, on the 23rd day of the 7th month.

The source of this era name comes from the Records of the Grand Historian: "When the common people know their place, then all under heaven is ruled"  (衆民乃定、万国為治)

Events of the Manji era

 * 1658 (Manji 1): In the aftermath of the Great Mereiki Fire, the shogunate organized four all-samurai, all-Edo firefighting squads.
 * 1658 (Manji 1): Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu is born. Yoshiyasu will become Shōgun Tsunayoshi's favorite courtier and chief counselor.
 * 1659 (Manji 2): In Edo, construction begins on the Ryōgoku Bridge (ryogokubashi).
 * 1660 (Manji 3): Former rōjū Sakai Tadakatsu entered the Buddhist priesthood.