Asuka, Yamato
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Asuka (飛鳥?) was one of the Imperial capitals of Japan during the Asuka period (538 A.D. - 710 A.D.), which takes its name from this place. It is located in the present-day village of Asuka, Nara Prefecture.
There are multiple theories as to how the place in turn was given its name, including such as i) it was named after the bird Common Crossbill, or isuka in Japanese, ii) it was named after the landform, eg. 洲処 (suka, meaning sandbar, sandbank or delta) or 崩地 (asu) + 処 (ka) and others.[1] Their ruins remain, while archaeology projects continue to uncover relics from the past. Recent discoveries in the area include Wado coins, believed to be some of the oldest coins in Japan, and paintings in the Kitora tombs.
The Ishibutai Kofun is located in Asuka. On March 12, 2004, the discovery of the remains of the main building of a residence was announced. Because the building was adjacent to the kofun, it is likely that the residence belonged to Soga no Umako, who is believed to have been entombed in the kofun.
Asuka can be reached from either the Okadera or Asuka stations on the Kintetsu train line, or by car on Route 169.
[edit] References
- ^ Ikeda Suenori 池田末則, Yokota Kenichi 横田健一 et al. "飛鳥 (Asuka)" Nara-ken no chimei 奈良県の地名 Heibonsha 平凡社, 1981. p. 263
Another theory is that it was named in honour of Asuka Nyorai, the Japanese equivalent of Akshobhya, one of the Five Buddhas of Wisdom, who was worshipped in the Asuka-dera (temple), the Asuka-niimasu-jinja (shrine for his manifestation as a Shinto god), and several other structures from those days.[citation needed]
