Kōnin (era)

The Kōnin era (弘仁) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, literally "year name") after Daidō and before Tenchō. This period spanned from June 810 to January 824. The reigning emperor was Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Saga-tennō).

The era was marked by efforts to strengthen imperial authority and administrative reforms. Emperor Saga implemented a new legal code based on the Ritsuryō system, aimed at streamlining government functions and improving efficiency. The period is also noted for its flourishing of culture, influenced by both native Japanese traditions and Tang Dynasty China. Notable figures of the Kōnin era include Kūkai (also known as Kōbō-Daishi), the founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism in Japan, who received imperial patronage during this time. The name of the era is taken from a passage in the Book of Rites and the Book of Documents.