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Kuni-ky? ruins
Kuni-ky?
(恭仁京, or
Kuni no miyako
), was the capital city of Japan between 740 and 744, whose imperial palace (恭仁宮
Kuni-ky?
or
Kuni no miya
) was built in the present-day city of
Kizugawa
in
Kyoto Prefecture
by the order of
Emperor Sh?mu
.
History
[
edit
]
The city of Kuni-ky? was never completed, as the capital was moved once again to the present-day city of
K?ka
,
Shiga Prefecture
, more specifically the
Shigaraki Palace
(
紫香?宮
)
in 744, only four years later.
[1]
In 745 Emperor Sh?mu moved the capital yet again to
Naniwa-ky?
(
Osaka
),
[1]
and before the year was out, reverted the capital back to
Heij?-ky?
in
Nara
.
[2]
The Kuni area was a power base for
Tachibana no Moroe
, who was then the minister with de facto power over the cabinet, known as the "
daj?-kan
" or "Great Council". The later preference of Shigaraki as the capital possibly points to the rival
Fujiwara clan
mounting a comeback,
[1]
since their influence extended around the Shigaraki area in
?mi Province
. The subsequent move to Naniwa may have been a compromise.
[1]
Emperor Sh?mu moved the capital yet again
Naniwa-ky?
(
Osaka
) in 745, which may have been a spot the two factions could compromise on,
[1]
but that same year reverted the capital back to Heij?-ky? in Nara.
[2]
Archaeological finds
[
edit
]
Excavations so far (as of 2006) have revealed key buildings, laid out following the Chinese pattern, as the
Daigokuden
(大極殿) and
Dairi
(?裏). The area of palace is estimated to have been 560 meters wide east to west and 750 meters long, north to south.
[3]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Kuni-ky?
.
| Preceded by
|
Capital of Japan
740?744
|
Succeeded by
|
34°45′56″N
135°51′46″E
/
34.76556°N 135.86278°E
/
34.76556; 135.86278
