| Visual Index of Nara Sites (Site name and description) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Hōryū-ji Temple (8th-9th centuries) The world's oldest wooden structures. |
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Kasuga Taisha Shrine (768) A Fujiwara family shrine |
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Kōfuku-ji Temple (730) A temple of the Fujiwara family. |
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Tōdai-ji Temple (8th century) Prince Shotuku's headquarters of Japanese Buddhism. |
About Nara
Nara emerged as the first permanent capital of Japan from 710-784. Prior to that period, the location of the capital changed with the death of each Emperor (according to tradition, the death of an Emperor permanently defiled the site). After 784, the Emperor transferred the capital to Kyoto in 784 to escape the intrigue of the growing Buddhist community in Nara.
Bibliography:
All Hōryū-ji images copyright 2000-2002 Abraham C. Ahn and Timothy M. Ciccone
All Kasuga and Kōfuku-ji images copyright 2007 Timothy M. Ciccone
All Tōdai-ji images copyright 2000-2002 Professor Robert D. Fiala of Concordia University, Nebraska, USA
Mizuno, Seiichi. Asuka Buddhist Art: Horyuji
Weatherhill, 1974. New York
Nishi and Hozumi Kazuo. What is Japanese Architecture?
Shokokusha Publishing Company, 1983. Tokyo