nien hao
/ˌnjɛn ˈhaʊ/noun
A title given to the reign, or part of the reign, of a Chinese emperor, used in imperial China as a system of dating. Hence: a mark (signifying a particular imperial reign-period) used on Chinese porcelain to indicate an object's period of manufacture.
- The nien hao system was introduced in China in the 2nd century b.c. The system lasted officially until the founding of the republic in 1911. However, successive Chinese governments treated the year after the founding of the republic as the first of a new period for dating purposes; it was not until the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1949, that the Gregorian calendar was adopted..
Origin
Early 19th century. From Chinese niánhào (Wade-Giles transcription nien hao) from nián year + hào name of a reign or dynasty.