Vermilion Bird

Japanese: 朱鳥 - しゅちょう

The Japanese era name (nengo). It was the era name of Emperor Tenmu in 686 during the Asuka period. The previous era name was Hakuchi . The era name was Taiho . On July 20, 686 (the 15th year of Emperor Tenmu), the era name was set as Shucho, and the use of the era name resumed after 32 years. It is said that the reason for the change of era name was to ward off misfortune and pray for Emperor Tenmu's recovery from illness, but the reason for the change of era name is unknown. The name was derived from " Kyokurai " in the "Book of Rites." After Tenmu's death in the same year, Emperor Jito and Emperor Mommu did not change the era name, and the era name was once again discontinued for 15 years until " Taiho ." However, there are descriptions of Shucho 4 and 6-8 in the "Manyoshu" and "Nihon Ryōiki," and some documents use the Shucho era name as it is. Some documents from the time of Emperor Tenmu use the era names Suzaku and Shujaku along with Shucho . Ancient era names that do not appear in official history, such as Suzaku, are called lost era names, but there are theories that Suzaku is another name for Shucho, and that it was the era name used by the Kyushu dynasty (Kyushu era name). Some academic theories question the use of the Shucho era name. ◇It can also be read as "suchou" or "akamitori."

Red Bird

⇒ Vermilion Bird

Sucho [Vermilion Bird]

⇒ Vermilion Bird

Source: Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japanese Era Names Information

Japanese:

日本の元号（年号）。飛鳥時代の686年、天武(てんむ)天皇の代の元号。前元号は白雉(はくち)。次元号は大宝(たいほう)。686年（天武天皇15）7月20日、元号が朱鳥と定められて、32年ぶりに元号の使用が再開された。不祥を祓い天武天皇の病気平癒を願ったものともされているが、改元の理由は不詳。『礼記(らいき)』の「曲礼(きょくらい)」を出典とする命名。同年の天武崩御後、持統(じとう)天皇、文武(もんむ)天皇は改元を行わず、「大宝」までの15年にわたって再び元号は断絶した。しかし、『万葉集(まんようしゅう)』や『日本霊異記(にほんりょういき)』などには朱鳥4年、6～8年の記述が見られ、そのまま朱鳥の元号を用いた文献もある。また、天武天皇の時代の文献には、朱鳥とともに朱雀(すざく)、(しゅじゃく)の元号を用いるものもある。朱雀のように正史に現れない古代元号を逸年号(いつねんごう)というが、朱雀は朱鳥の別称とする説、九州王朝が用いた元号（九州年号）とする異説などがある。なお、朱鳥の元号は、その使用について疑問視する学説もある。◇「すちょう」「あかみとり」とも読む。