Nara Period-1 (奈良時代-1):For anybody interested in Japan & its history/culture (015E)

In 2010 Nara Celebrated 1300 Anniversary of Heijo-Kyo Sento
(transfer of capital), which was implemented in 710 by Jito
Emperor. The replica of Heijo palace was built and "SentoKun"
mascot charactor fascinated people at various corners of the
town thru the year.
2010年奈良は平城京遷都1300年を祝い、セント君という
マスコットも誕生しました。

After Jito, Monmu Emperor succeeded, who had started the project
to transfer the capital from Fujiwara to Heijo but passed away
in 707. His mother who is the daughter of Tenchi Emperor became
Genmei Emperor actually transferred the capital in 710.
After Genmei, Monmu's sister got in the position as Gensho Emperor
until 724 abdicated to the son of Monmu, Shomu Emperor who was in
the position until 749 and ordered construction of provincial
monasteries and nunneris in many districts throughout Japan as well
as building Todaiji and its gigantic Buddha statue.
694年に天武天皇の後を継いで、持統天皇が藤原宮を完成させました。
持統天皇の後は文武天皇ですが707年逝去、平城京遷都は母親で、天智
天皇の娘の元明天皇が行いました。その後は文武天皇の姉の元正天皇、
次は文武天皇の長男の聖武天皇となります。　聖武天皇は749年まで在位、
その間に国分寺・国分尼寺を全国に作ったり、東大寺と大仏建造を行い
ました。
　

Around that time, Fujiwara clan quite influential to japanese
history extended their power. Fujiwara-Name was first given to
Kamatari just before his death due to his contribution to Tenchi
Empeor's political affairs including Taika-Reform.
The Strategy of Fujiwara to gain power was to have their girls
to be wives of Emperors.
The first case, was Miyako, a daughter of Fuhito, who became the
wife of Monmu Emperor and mother of Shomu Emperor.
Fuhito also succeeded in having one of his daughter "KouMyouShi"
to the wife position of Shomu Emperor.
Fuhito forced NagayaOu kill himself who was the key person among
the royal families at that time and against the idea of giving
Empress title to KouMyouShi-later KouMyou Empress, in order to
make KouMyouShi Empress from outside royal family.
この頃から、日本歴史で皇室に次ぐ勢力を見せる”藤原家”が台頭します。
元々天智天皇と大化の改新を行った鎌足が藤原姓の最初ですが、この頃
は不比等の時代で、文武天皇の夫人宮子は不比等の娘ですし、文武天皇の
第一子の聖武天皇の妃に、後の光明皇后となる、娘の光明子を入れる事に
成功し、外戚として当時皇族側で天武天皇の孫で、中心となっていた長屋王
を自害させ、光明子の立后にも成功する。　四人の息子がそれぞれ藤原の
南・北・式・京家を継ぎ、平安以降も政治を牛耳る勢力となり、皇室でも
后・妃は殆どが藤原家の娘となるという事になります。　藤原氏の戦略は
武力ではなく、娘を天皇の后とする事で、外戚となる戦略で、平安中期の
道長がピークで、3人の娘が天皇の家族となり、栄華を極めます。
　

Kofukuji and Kasuga Shrine are both World Heitage Site and clan's
temple and shrine of Fujiwara and also a typical example of Shinto-
Buddhism mixed culture of Japan in our history.
By the way, Many deers in Nara are viewed as sacrid beast which
came from Hitachi (IbarakiPrefecture) with deity of Kasuga shrine.
興福寺は藤原氏の氏寺ですし、春日神社も藤原氏の氏神で、日本歴史の
一大特徴とも言える、”神仏習合”の例でもあります。　奈良の街を歩くと
至る所で鹿に出会います。　鹿は神聖な動物でいじめたり、殺してはいけない
とされていますが、その元は春日大社の源が常陸（今の茨城県）の鹿島神宮で、
勧請を受けた神様が、三輪山に来られる際に、白鹿に乗って来られたとの
謂われからだそうです。

The central portion of Nara city is designated as World Heritage
site having 8 spots and constructions as follows;
Eight places are scattered as in the map, especially 5)～7) located
south-Kyo area a bit far to reach by walk, you may ride bicycle to
move around, though the entire area has a slight slope and may not
be so comfortable as rental-cycle in Asuka village where roads are
flat.
現在の奈良には下記八か所の世界遺産指定の場所・建物があります；
春日山原生林を除き、市の中心部と西京に分布しており、自転車での回遊が
便利です、但し少しスロープ状なので、明日香村ほどの快適なサイクリング
にはならないかもしれません。

１）Todaiji;
Head temple of Kegon sect. Shomu Emperor built Konshuji
in 728 in mourning of premature death of his son, which
became YamatoKonKouMyouJi in 741 as the provincial
monastery of Yamato (Nara). In 747 to 752, the big
Buddha statue was built in this temple site, according
to the order of Shomu Emperor, the name Todaiji began to
be used as the head temple of all provincial monasteries
throughout Japan. All original buildings were burned
down or destroyed and present ones are of rebuilt ones
in Edo Period. Many National Treasures as Kindo, Nandaimon
etcetra.
東大寺；
華厳宗の大本山
728年聖武天皇が息子の夭折を悼み、初代住職良弁を任命建立した、
金鐘山寺が前身で、741年国分寺建立が下命され、金鐘山寺が昇格し
大和金光明寺となった。747年～752年に大仏が建造され、東大寺
の名前が使用されると共に、全国60か所の国分寺の総本山のような
位置づけとなった。　但し戦火で堂宇等は消失し、現存のものは
江戸時代に再建のものである。　金堂・南大門の他国宝も数多い
　

２）Kofukuji;
Head temple of Hosso sect. Fujiwara Clan's temple whose
purpose is to pray for glory of the clan. Originally was
Yamashina temple in Yamashina near Kyoto, which had been
moved to Fujiwara-Kyo at the time of "Jinshin-War" in 672.
Fuhito further moved it to present place at Heijo-Transfer
time, altering the name to Kofukuji.
Through Genpei-War or movement of waste and abolish of Buddha
statues most of buildings were destryed and rebuilt, but many
are National Treasure as five-storied pagota, East-Golden-Hall,
Asyura statue at National Treasure Hall.
興福寺；
法相宗大本山
藤原氏の氏寺で、元は山科の山階寺で、672年壬申の乱時
藤原京に移設、平城遷都の際、不比等が現在地に移し
興福寺となった
源平合戦や廃仏毀釈等で堂宇は再建のものが多いが、
五重塔や東金堂や国宝館の阿修羅像等国宝も数多い
　

３）KasugaTaisya;
Fujiwara Clan's guardian shrine, built by Nagate
in 768. Kasuga Festival in March every year is one of
the three festivals involving Emperors as Aoi(Kamigamo Shrine)
and Iwashimizu. Deers in Nara are Holy beast which are said
to have come to Nara with the Guardian Diety from Hitachi
(Ibaraki). The Main Hall and Swords, Armors are national
treasures.
春日大社；
768年藤原永手により創建（それ以前との説もあり）。
藤原氏祖神・守護神を祀る。　毎年3月の春日祭は賀茂神社の
葵祭、石清水八幡宮の岩清水祭と三勅祭とされる。本殿の他
保有の太刀・鎧等国宝の宝物も多い
　

４）Gankoji;
Had Built by SogaNoUmako about end of six century in Asuka-Kyo
which transferred to current place when Heijo-Kyo was built
keeping the original temple in Asuka, which was named Hokoji
while the new one was named GanKoji. Originally Hosso and
Sanron sect school having huge site as Todaiji and Koufukuji,
which covers most of "NaraMachi" area now. Now Gankoji is
Rissyu and Kegon sect and Main Hall etcetra are National
Treasure.
元興寺；
6世紀末、蘇我馬子が建立の飛鳥の法興寺の後身、日本最初の本格
仏教寺院、平城遷都後も飛鳥の法興寺は飛鳥寺として残っており、
元は三論宗・法相宗の道場で東大寺・興福寺と並ぶ大伽藍で、
今のなら町は殆ど境内域であった。本堂等は国宝に指定されている。
　

This post may be too long to be read, so I prefer to stop here and
start again about place other than central point in the next post.
今回は長くなり過ぎと思えますので、西京辺りは次回に回します。