Glossary

Hongzhi

弘治

Term · calendar

Chinese era name (弘治) of the Ming for the years 1488–1505: 1488 is Hongzhi 1 (元年) and Hongzhi 18 is 1505. Hongzhi (弘治) is a Chinese era name (nianhao) of the Ming, proclaimed in 1488. Under the Ming and Qing an emperor kept one era for his whole reign and is known by it: the Hongzhi Emperor. Its years are counted in lunar years: 1488 is Hongzhi 1 (元年), 1505 its last year, Hongzhi 18. A Chinese source dates a year within it as “Hongzhi 2” (弘治二年) rather than by a continuous count. Before: Chenghua. After: Zhengde.