Nara period

The Nara period (Japanese: 奈良時代, Nara-jidai) of the History of Japan covers the years from about AD 710 to 794. Empress Genmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara), where it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kanmu established the new capital at Nagaoka (and, only a decade later, Heian, or Kyōto).

Related Topics:
Japanese - History of Japan - 710 - 794 - Empress Genmei - Heijō-kyō - Nara - Emperor Kanmu - Nagaoka - Kyōto

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Most of Japanese society during this period was agricultural in nature, centered around villages. Most of the villagers followed the Shinto religion, based around the worship of natural and ancestral spirits (kami).

Related Topics:
Shinto - Kami

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The capital at Nara was modelled after Chang'an (Xi'an), the capital city of Tang China. In many other ways the Japanese upper classes patterned themselves after the Chinese, including adopting the Chinese written characters (kanji) and the religion of Buddhism.

Related Topics:
Xi'an - Tang - China - Kanji - Buddhism

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