Ōnin was a Japanese era name after Bunshō and before Bunmei. This period spanned the years from March 1467 through April 1469. The reigning emperor was Go-Tsuchimikado-tennō.
Change of era
1467Ōnin gannen: The era name was changed to mark an event or a number of events. The old era ended and a new one commenced in Bunshō 2.
Events of the ''Ōnin'' era
The Ōnin War: This conflict began as a controversy over who should follow Ashikaga Yoshimasa as shōgun after his retirement - whether it would be his brother or his son ; but this succession dispute was merely a pretext for rival groups of daimyōs to fight in a struggle for military supremacy. In the end, there was no clearcut winner. The complex array of factional armies simply fought themselves into exhaustion.
1467 : Yamana Sōzen and Hatakeyama Yoshinari took up positions around the Muromachi-dono, the Ashikaga residence in Heian-kyō where the Shōgun made his headquarters. They sent for Ashikaga Yoshimi, and they also invited former-Emperor Go-Hanazono and Go-Tsuchimikado to come themselves to Muromachi to witness for themselves that Hosokawa Katsumoto and Hatakeyama Michinaga would be put to death. For his part, Yoshimi first tried to ameliorate the escalating situation. Failing that, Yoshimi orderedYoshinari to kill Masanaga, but Yoshinari was overpowered and Masanaga fled the capital. These events caused Souzen and Yoshinari to feel afraid of what might happen next.
1467 : The nadaijin Sayensi-no Saneto was replaced by Hino-no Katsumitsi.
1467 : Shiba-no Yoshikado became kanrei; and from this moment forward, the confidence and activities of Katsumoto ceased entirely. He didn't go out at all, and he began to regret that he hadn't joined Masanaga. At the same time, Souzen and Yoshinari despaired as they secretly occupied themselves with preparations for armed confrontation. They informed their clans of their plans, and they began to believe that with support from outside the capital, it would be possible to surmount any number of obstacles.
1467 : Nijō Mochimitsi was removed from his role as kampaku, and Ichijō Kaneyoshi became his successor.
Higashiyama-dono
The emperor honored Yoshimasa's villa with a special name – Higashiyama-dono. Construction begins on the Silver Pavilion, but the work is interrupted by a range of disruptions associated with the Ōnin War. Significant dates in this evolving crisis were:
1460 : Yoshimasa initiated planning for construction of a retirement villa and gardens as early as 1460; and after his death, this property would become a Buddhist temple called Jisho-ji.
February 21, 1482 : The long-delayed construction of the "Silver Pavilion" is actually commenced.
