Current Issue :
2019 Vol 1
J East-Asian Urban His. 2019, 1: 81-96
DOI: https://doi.org//10.22769/JEUH.2019.1.1.81
The urban history of Japan from a territorial perspective. Ancient edition
Takeshi Ito
- Received2019-04-24
- Accepted2019-06-11
- Published Online2019-12-31
Abstract
This paper attempts to rethink the ancient Emperor’s Capital transition process from the viewpoint of territorial history. Emperor Tenmu, who planned first capital as Fujiwara-kyo in Asuka region, had a grand plan to put multiple cities in Japan. At that time the important cities were situated along east-west axis. However, since relocation of the capital from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijyo-kyo, the axis had turned towards north-south direction. The last ancient capital Heian-kyo was clearly organized utilizing north-south water systems in territorial sense.
Key Words: Territorial history, Ancient capital, Multiple capital system, Fujiwara-kyo, Heijyo-kyo, Heian-kyo
This paper attempts to rethink the ancient Emperor’s Capital transition process from the viewpoint of territorial history. Emperor Tenmu, who planned first capital as Fujiwara-kyo in Asuka region, had a grand plan to put multiple cities in Japan. At that time the important cities were situated along east-west axis. However, since relocation of the capital from Fujiwara-kyo to Heijyo-kyo, the axis had turned towards north-south direction. The last ancient capital Heian-kyo was clearly organized utilizing north-south water systems in territorial sense.
Key Words: Territorial history, Ancient capital, Multiple capital system, Fujiwara-kyo, Heijyo-kyo, Heian-kyo