History 150a
 
 
Structuring Power: Capitals Overview Succession of Capitals Built in the Yamato Region in the 7th and 8th c. Capitals and the Model of Chang-an Nara: Ritual Center Heian: Capital City Early Palaces & Capitals Ootsu (667-672) [Kiyomihara (673-694)] Fujiwara-kyô (694-710) Heijô-kyô (Nara) (710-784) Kuni (740-745) Naniwa (744-745) Nagaoka-kyô (784-794) Heian-kyô (Kyôto) (794-1868) Impermanent Capitals Why build? Why move? The Chang-an Model Chang-an: capital for Tang dynasty (617-907) Correspondence between the earthly and heavenly orders Japanese Capital Cities Model Capitals Chinese not Korean model Symmetrical Laid out on square or rectangular grid Government and imperial palace to the north Central processional avenue bisecting capital Markets for eastern and western sections Water: river in the east, quiet waters in the south Mountains in the north Road to the west [No outer walls] Spiritual Defense of Capitals Red Bird (suzaku) South, pleased by quiet waters Black Warrior (gembu) North, pleased by high ground White Tiger (byakko) West, pleased by a road Green Dragon (seiryû) East, pleased by a river Nara: Ritual Center Nara (710-784) At the time, called Heijô-kyô (Capital City of Peace) 4.8 km north-south and 5.7 km east-west Population est. from 50,000 to 200,000 End point for the Silk Road Daigokuden: Great Hall of State Tôdaiji (Eastern Great Temple) Major project under Emperor Shômu Main image (64 ft) : Vairocana, solar Buddha Tôdaiji also served as important site for ceremonies Estab of special Tôdaiji Construction Agency Measures of Civilization Sannai Maruyama Tombs and the Korean "foot" (35.45 cm) Tang measures introduced in Nara by law Rise and Fall of Nara First occupied in 710 Briefly abandoned (740-745) Ultimately abandoned in 784 Heian-kyô: Capital City Location, Location, Location Nagaoka-kyô (784-794) too small Heian (City of Peace and Tranquility): High ground to north, east and west Kamo River in the east, curving around in south Katsura River to the west Balance between mountains and rivers Land to expand for capital of larger scale Imperial palace in the north and Mt. Hiei temple complex in NE for protection Major temples originally kept on outskirts Class and Urban Space Changes to the Ideal Too costly to fully complete (bldgs and landfill) Resurgence of native architectural styles Earthquakes and fires devastated parts of the city West of imperial palace declined, became site for thieves and bandits East flourished, spread across Kamo River (why?) Population grew to 100,000 by 10th c. with growing numbers of commoners Imperial palace abandoned for Fujiwara palace in 13th c. Urban Hustle and Bustle Pollution and the City Heian: Capital City Imperial Center Syncretism and ritual performances Permanent political and bureaucratic center Cultural center Continues to draw in core and regional elites Urban economic center Return to transportation through waterways Commoners to provide goods and services Up through Tokugawa period, Kinai region constituted the economic "cutting edge"
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Lecture 7: Capitols