Bunmei

Bunmei, written with the kanji for civilization and culture (文明), is a Japanese era name (nengō) used during the Muromachi period. The era spanned from 1469 to 1487. As with other nengō, the name was chosen to mark a hopeful shift in the country’s fortunes and to frame official imperial and court actions within a defined period.

The Bunmei era occurred under the Ashikaga shogunate, during the tenure of Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa. It followed the tumultuous years of the Onin War and the early stages of political fragmentation that characterized late medieval Japan. The period was marked by weakened central authority, with regional warlords and daimyo exercising increasing influence, especially outside the capital Kyoto. Despite ongoing conflicts, the era also saw continued cultural and religious activity, as well as pragmatic local governance in various provinces.

In historical usage, Bunmei is one of several nengō used to segment the long Muromachi era. Its years are part of the timeline historians use to organize political, social, and cultural developments of 15th-century Japan. The era concluded in 1487, after which the next nengō was adopted to mark subsequent changes in leadership and policy.

See also: Japanese era names, Muromachi period, Ashikaga shogunate.