Tengyō

Tengyō (天慶) refers to a Japanese era name (年号, nengō) which spanned from July 938 to May 947. This era fell within the Heian period. The reigning emperor during the Tengyō era was Emperor Suzaku (朱雀天皇).

The name Tengyō can be translated as something akin to "Heavenly Celebration" or "Celestial Auspices." The name was chosen following a series of natural disasters and political instability in the preceding Jōhei era, with the hope of ushering in a period of peace and prosperity.

Significant events during the Tengyō era include the Tengyō Rebellion (天慶の乱, Tengyō no Ran), a major uprising led by Taira no Masakado in the Kantō region. This rebellion challenged the authority of the central government in Kyoto and demonstrated the growing power of regional warrior clans. Simultaneously, Fujiwara no Sumitomo led a rebellion in the Seto Inland Sea, further straining the government's resources. These rebellions, though ultimately suppressed, exposed weaknesses in the Heian court and contributed to the rise of the samurai class.

The subsequent era after Tengyō was the Tenryaku (天暦) era.