Kuni-kyō

Kuni-kyō ruins

Kuni-kyō (恭仁京), also called Kuni no miyako, was an ancient Imperial capital of Japan between 740 and 744.[1] It was in present-day Kizugawa in Kyoto Prefecture.[2]

History

The new capital of Emperor Shōmu was built by Tachibana no Moroe.[1]

The palace (Kuni no miya) was built in the former Yamashiro Province.[3] in what became the town Kizu.[2]

The city of Kuni-kyō was not completed. The court and capital moved to Naniwa-kyō (Osaka) after only four years.

Archeology

Studies of the archaeological site suggest the location of the main buildings. The city was laid out in a grid. The area of palace is estimated to have been 500+ meters wide and 700+ meters long.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Naniwa" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 574.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, 恭仁宮跡の発掘調査 (Excavations on the Kuni Palace site) Archived 2020-11-01 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2011-11-24.
  3. ↑ Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Annales des empereurs du Japon, p. 71.
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