Heijō Palace

Lore & Background

Heijō Palace was established after Empress Genmei issued a rescript in 708 AD to move the capital from Fujiwara-kyō to the northern edge of the Nara basin. The capital was officially established in 710 AD, though palace completion took longer. The city and palace grounds were based largely on Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), the Tang dynasty capital, following Chinese geomancy principles that dictated a grid street system and placement of protective shrines at cardinal directions. The palace was placed at the northern end of Suzaku Street, the main thoroughfare.

Reader's Guide

Heijō Palace served as the imperial residence and administrative center for most of the Nara period, from 710 to 794 AD, embodying the centralized government model adopted from China. After the capital moved to Heian-kyō, the palace was abandoned and gradually destroyed by fires and other disasters, with almost no trace remaining above ground by the late 12th century. The site was designated a Special Historical Site in 1952, and large-scale excavations began in the 1970s. Reconstruction of key structures, including the Suzaku Gate (1998) and the First Great Hall (2010), has been based on contemporary literary sources and archaeological evidence. The excavated remains were established as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 as part of the 'Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara.'

Did You Know?

• The palace was designed based on Chang'an, the capital of Tang-dynasty China.
• The Suzaku Gate, the main entrance, was reconstructed in 1998.
• The First Great Hall (Daigokuden) was restored for the 2010 Heijo Relocation 1300 Year Festival.
• The site was converted to agricultural use after the capital moved, with almost no trace above ground by the Kamakura period.