Historical capital of Japan
Heij?-ky?
(
平城京
, also
Heizei-ky?
, sometimes
Nara no miyako
)
was the
Capital of Japan
during most of the
Nara period
, from 710 to 740 and again from 745 to 784. The
imperial palace
is a listed
UNESCO World Heritage
together with other places in the city of
Nara
(cf.
Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
).
Empress Genmei
ordered the Imperial capital moved from Fujiwara-ky? to Heij?-ky? in 708, and the move to Heij?-ky? was complete in 710. Heij?-ky? was modeled after
Chang'an
, the capital of
Tang-dynasty
China
, although Heij?-ky? lacked walls. In the city, merchants and traders from China, Korea and India introduced various foreign cultures to Heij?-ky? through the Silk Road. As a result, Heij?-ky? flourished as Japan's first international and political capital, with a peak population of between 50,000 and 100,000.
[1]
The overall form of the city was an irregular rectangle, and the area of the city was more than 25 km
2
.
Architecture
[
edit
]
In the area of Heij?-ky?, there are ancient Buddhist temples, and some temples are also listed as
UNESCO World Heritage
together with
Heij? Palace
.
1,300th anniversary
[
edit
]
The year 2010 marked the passage of 1,300 years since the establishment of Nara Heij?-ky?. Commemorative events of the 1,300th anniversary of Nara Heij?-ky? Capital (Japanese:平城遷都1300年祭) were held in and around Nara Prefecture from April 24 to November 7, 2010. These events included special displays of
national treasures
and other cultural properties, walking events that explore famous places in Nara and traditional events in various places throughout Nara.
A:Entrance Plaza
●Heij? Palace Site Tour Center
●Corporate Participation Hall
B:Heij? History Museum/Full-Scale Replica of Japanese Diplomatic Ship for
Envoys to Tang China
C:Suzaku Gate Plaza
●Suzaku Gate
D:Exchange Plaza
●Mahoroba Stage
●Exchange Hall
E:Heij? Palace Site Museum
F:Front Courtyard of the Former Imperial Audience Hall
G:South Gate Plaza
●Tempyo period costume rental area
H:Heij?-ky? Hands-on Learning Plaza
●Heij?-ky? Hands-on Learning Center
●Ministry of the Imperial Household
I:Excavation Site Exhibition Hall
J:Eastern Palace Garden Plaza
●Eastern Palace Garden
Ikaruga and Shigi-san Areas (cf.
Ikaruga
, 斑鳩?信貴山)
Asuka and Fujiwara Areas (cf.
Asuka
, 飛鳥?藤原)
Katsuragi Area (葛城)
Yoshino Area (cf.
Mount Yoshino
, 吉野)
Yamato Kogen Plains and Uda Area (大和高原?宇陀)
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
(48)平城京の人口と役人たち
.
Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties
. Retrieved
August 16,
2022
.
External links
[
edit
]
Media related to
Heij?-ky?
at Wikimedia Commons
Preceded by
|
Capital of Japan
710?740
|
Succeeded by
|
Preceded by
|
Capital of Japan
745?784
|
Succeeded by
|
34°41′28″N
135°47′41″E
/
34.69111°N 135.79472°E
/
34.69111; 135.79472