Heijō Palace
Heijō Palace (平城宮 Heijō-kyū) in Nara, was the imperial palace of Japan (710-784 AD), during most of the Nara period. The Palace was located in the north end of the capital city, Heijō-kyō. The remains of the palace, and the surrounding area, was established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 along with a number of other buildings and area, as the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara."
History
After Empress Genmei's succession to Imperial Throne in 707, there was much discussion about the transfer of the palace. A year later, a rescript was issued deciding on the move to Nara. In 710, the new capital officially takes over, but the completion of the palace had to wait further.[1] (Written Heijō (平城) but also pronounced Nara at the time, the land gains its synonym, Nanto (南都, 'Southern Capital') as opposed to Kyoto, the capital in the North, centuries later.)
The city, and the palace grounds, was based largely on Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), the capital of China during the Tang Dynasty, which was contemporary to the time when Nara was capital of Japan. Chang'an was in turn, like many ancient East Asian cities, based on a complex system of beliefs & laws of geomancy. This dictated the grid system of streets, as well as the necessity for spiritually protective shrines or temples to be placed at particular cardinal directions around the city.
In accordance with this system, the Palace was placed at the northern end, on an extended line from Suzaku Street, the main thoroughfare running north-south straight through the center of the city. The street ended at the Suzaku-mon, depicted above, and the rest of the Palace buildings were then placed beyond to the north of this gate. The primary buildings of the Palace compound were the Daigoku-den, where governmental affairs were conducted, the Chōdō-in where formal ceremonies were held, the Dairi, the Emperor's residence, and offices for various administrative agencies. The foundations or footprints of these buildings are still visible on the site.
There was a former and a later palace.
When the capital was moved to Heian-kyō (now called Kyoto), Nara's Imperial Palace was simply abandoned. Over the ensuing centuries, the ravages of time and the elements slowly destroyed the buildings, until by the beginning of the Kamakura Period in the late 12th century there was practically nothing left above ground. However, those sections that lay underground were preserved, and re-discovered by modern archaeologists.[2]
While the site was designated Special Historical Site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in 1952, archaeological efforts headed by the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, such as excavations are continuing since 1959. The Suzaku-mon and Tou-in Garden have been restored and opened to the public in 1998. The Takenaka Corporation was mainly responsible for the reconstruction.[3]
1300th anniversary
Heijō Palace was the Main Event Site of Commemorative events of the 1300th anniversary of Nara Heijō-kyō Capital (Japanese:平城遷都1300年祭) in 2010, and the First Daigokuden(第一次大極殿) was restored for the occasion.[4] In commemorative events of the 1300th anniversary, a variety of seasonal events were held throughout Nara Prefecture.
Transport
It takes 15 or 20 minutes to walk from Yamato-Saidaiji Station to Heijō Palace. And between May and August in 2010, the free shuttle bus runs between Yamato-Saidaiji Station, JR Nara Station and Heijō Palace every 10 or 15 minutes.
See also
- Heian Palace
- List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
References
- ↑ "National Research Institute for Cultural Properties". Retrieved 2007-03-09. Navigate to English page from top menu bar
- ↑ image showing placement of pillars
- ↑ http://www.takenaka.co.jp/solution/purpose/traditional/service08/index.html
- ↑ http://www.takenaka.co.jp/solution/purpose/traditional/service09/index.html
External links
Media related to Heijō Palace at Wikimedia Commons
| ||||||||||
Coordinates: 34°41′28″N 135°47′44″E / 34.69111°N 135.79556°E
| ||||||||