Year Names of China and Japan

<p>Japan adopted the practice of using year names of Nengoh during 645 A D (the first year of Taikwa). Since then the accession of a new emperor with the exception of a few has been marked with a new year title exactly as has been the custom in China. During the reign of some of the emperors as many as six new titles have been adopted. Ambiguities have often occurred in computation of time due to frequent changes of year titles. Changes may take place at any time of the year and from the time of the change on till the end of that year no matter how short it is called the first year under the new title. Thus that same calendar year has two different titles. This volume provides a comparison of historical dates of two Oriental nations but is also of use to specialists in Oriental arts and scholars of ancient documents scripts pictures and prints. </p>