Bun'ei (文永) was a Japanese era name (年号, nengō, lit. "year name") after Kōchō and before Kenji. This period spanned the years from February 1264 to April 1275.[1] The reigning emperor was Kameyama-tennō (亀山天皇).[2]
1264 Bun'ei gannen (文永元年); 1264: The new era name was created to mark an event or a number of events. The previous era ended and a new one commenced in Kōchō 4.
March 6, 1274 (Bun'ei 11, 26th day of the 1st month): In the 15th year of Kameyama-tennō's reign (亀山天皇15年), the emperor abdicated; and the succession (senso) was received by his cousin.[3]
May 4, 1274 (Bun'ei 11, 26th day of the 3rd month): Emperor Go-Uda is said to have acceded to the throne (sokui).[4] The retired Emperor Kameyama continued to exercise power as cloistered emperor.
Japanese samurai defending the stone barrier -- from the narrative picture scroll Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba, which was painted between 1275 and 1293.
November 19, 1274 (Bun'ei 11, 20th day of the 10th month): Battle of Bun'ei -- Kublai Khan's Mongol forces land at Hakata Bay near Fukuoka in Kyūshū. After landing and some armed skirmishes, the invaders withdraw to spend the night on shipboard. That night, a storm sinks several ships, and the fleet retreats to Korea rather than pressing their initial advantage.[5] In the course of the day's fighting, the Hakozaki Shrine was burned to the ground.[6]Nihon Ōdai Ichiran explains that the invaders were defeated because they lacked arrows.[7]