Tenmei (天明) was a Japanese era after An'ei and before Kansei and spanned from 1781 to 1789. The reigning emperor was Kōkaku.

Change of Era

Following the enthronement of Emperor Kōkaku, on the 2nd day of the 4th month (old calendar) of An'ei 11 (1781), the era became Tenmei (Dawn).

Events of the Tenmei Era

• Tenmei 2-8 (1782-1789) - Great Tenmei Famine, in the fifth month of Tenmei 7 (1788), riots in rice shops in Edo and Osaka
• July 6 (?), Tenmei 3 (1783) - Great eruption of Mount Asama, approximately 20,000 dead and making the Great Tenmei Famine even worse
• February 23 (?), Tenmei 4 (1784) - Discovery of gold stamps at Shikashima, Chikuzen

Tenmei	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
Gregorian	1781	1782	1783	1784	1785	1786	1787	1788	1789