Heijō-kyō

Heijō-kyō (, also known as  Heizei-kyō) was twice the ancient Imperial capital of Japan from 710 to 784.  It was where Nara is today.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2002). "Heijō-kyō" in Japan Encyclopedia, pp. 304-305.

History
In 710, Empress Gemmei moved the Imperial capital from Fujiwara-kyō which is about 18 km south.

Timeline
 707 (Keiun 4): Emperor Mommu orders construction of a new capital city, but the work is not complete before his death.Titsingh, Isaac. (1834).  Annales des empereurs du Japon, p. 64.
 710 (Wadō 3, 3rd month):  Empress Gemmei moves from Fujiwara-kyō to Heijō-kyō.  The palace of the empress was named Nara-no-miya.Brown, Delmer. (1979).  Gukanshō, p. 270.
 784 (Enryaku 3): Capital is moved briefly to Nagaoka
 794 (Enryaku 13): Capital was moved to Heian-kyō and the palace was named Heian no Miya.Brown,   p. 277.
 November 17, 794 (Enryaku 13, 21st day of the 10th month): The emperor traveled by carriage from Nara to Heian-kyō in a grand procession.Brown,  p. 279.   This marks the end of the Nara period and the beginning of the Heian period in Japanese history.

Architecture
The Heijō PalaceNaracity Tourist Association,  World Heritage ; retrieved 2011-12-8. and some of the Buddhist temples at Heijō-kyō are named together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,UNESCO,  "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara"; retrieved 2012-4-19. including 
 Daian-ji (大安寺)
 Yakushi-ji (薬師寺)
 Kōfuku-ji (興福寺)
 Gangō-ji (元興寺)
 Suzakumon (朱雀門, reconstruction) 
 Saidai-ji (西大寺)
 Tōdai-ji (東大寺)
 Daikokuden (大極殿, reconstruction)

Related pages 
 List of World Heritage Sites in Japan
 Capital of Japan

References

Other websites

 Jô-Bô System of Heijô-Kyô 
 Nara (Heijô-kyô) — The Capital of Japan in the 8th Century 

Category:Former capitals of Japan
Category:8th century in Japan