History of Nara City
Yayoi Period
Ancient stone tools in addition to earthenware and stone tools from the Jomôn period have been found within Nara city; however, the discovery of Yayoi-period ruins in city areas such as Saki town, Kashiwagi town, Suruga town, and Kubonoshô town has led people to believe that "villages" were built on land suitable for rice paddies.
Kofun Period
During the 4th century, many influential and powerful families built large tombs in the Yamato basin. The more powerful of these were the Wani clan, later renamed the Kasuga clan and particularly strong in the area near Nara city, and, from the end of the 6th century, a group of families including the Ôya and Ono families.
Another strong family, based in the northwestern part of Nara city, was the Hijikata family, which later became known as the Sugawara clan.
Nara Period
In 710 (Wadô 3), the capital was moved from the Asuka capital Fujiwara-kyô to Heijô-kyô in Nara. For about the next 70 years, Heijô-kyô prospered as the capital of ancient Japan. This metropolis occupied an area 4.3 km east-west by 4.8 km north-south in addition to an area 1.5 km east-west by 2.4 km north-south in the east, called the Gekyô (or Exterior Capital). The city, beautifully painted with the magnificent palace, temples and nobles' mansions, was orderly divided into blocks by the main street, Suzaku-ôji, which ran south through the center of the city from Heijô-kyô, and by other large and small streets. This large-scale city planning is thought to have been modeled after Chang'an, the capital of the Chinese T'ang dynasty. At the height of the period, the capital had a population of about 100,000 with many visitors from other lands, including T'ang as well as Bo Hai and Xin Luo. The people of the time brought about the blossoming of the Tenpyô-era culture.
After the Move to Heian-kyô
After the capital was moved to Kyôto, the ruins of Heijô-kyô were soon turned into rice fields. However, most of the large temples were left untouched, enabling Nara to continue through history as a town rich in shrines and temples. Beginning with Kôfuku-ji temple gaining power, and extending to Tôdai-ji temple and Gangô-ji temple, the town could gradually become a historic village, shaping Nara into what it is today.
The attack of the Heike (Taira family)
During the attack of the Taira clan in 1180 (Jishô 4), the Daibutsu-den (the hall housing the Great Buddha statue) was burnt down and Nara was nearly destroyed. Soon afterwards, however, Tôdai-ji temple and Kôfuku-ji temple were rebuilt and Nara town was beautifully reconstructed. With scores of villages already dotting the area by the late 13th century and due to its steady development of commerce and handicraft manufacturing, Nara flourished as the second capital city, next to Kyôto, until it was surpassed by the developing Sakai at the end of the 15th century. One by one, new villages were established, and by the beginning of the 16th century, there were 200 villages with a total population of 25,000. Also about this time, Nara bleached cotton and Nishinokyô braziers were becoming highly praised in Kyôto, while other Nara products, such as swords, lacquerware, fans, and dolls, were being exported into Sakai.
A Second Disaster for the Great Buddha Statue
In 1560 (Eiroku 3), Hisahide Matsunaga constructed Tamon castle on Mt. Mikenji-yama. This was the first time that Nara was ruled by a warrior. Seven years later, the battle between Hisahide and the Miyoshi clan extended into Nara and the Daibutsu-den was again burned down. However, this time, the combined efforts of all town citizens helped limit the damages caused by the war, and prompted all of the villages in the area to come together to form Nara town.
Edo Period
During the Edo period, Nara was converted into a territory under the direct control of the Nara shogunate administrator. All of the prominent elderly townspeople were selected to receive a mandate from the shogunate administrator to govern the town. From this, four town representatives were responsible for the actual governing of the town. During a census at the end of the 17th century, a total of 35,000 people were counted in all 205 towns.
At the beginning of the Edo period, Nara flourished with the production of specialty products, such as bleached cotton as well as sake, black ink, armors and helmets, swords, and fans, turning Nara into an industrial city.
The Beginning of the Meiji Period
Since the middle of the Edo period, Nara was known as a touristic town, but by the time of the Meiji Restoration, it had become stagnant. The introduction of Haibutsu-kishaku (the abolishment of Buddhism and rejection of Shaka's teachings to regard Shintoism as the state religion) dealt a damaging blow to all of the large temples. With the introduction of Haihan-chiken (the termination of the han system and the establishment of prefectures) in 1871 (Meiji 4), Nara prefecture received jurisdiction over the entire Yamato area, and the prefectural office was set up in Nara. However, in 1876 (Meiji 9), Nara prefecture was dissolved, and the Yamato area, following Sakai prefecture, was incorporated into Osaka prefecture. This was very disappointing for Nara, which had finally had a chance to make a recovery when it had become the location for the prefectural offices.
In 1887 (Meiji 20), Nara prefecture was re-established and the prefectural office was moved back to Nara, reviving the city. Two years later when municipalities were established, the area was found to have too small of a population to be recognized as a city. Finally, in 1898 (Meiji 31), the long-awaited city status was achieved.
This brought railways from Osaka and Kyoto, companies and banks were constructed, the completion of Nara Park could continue, and Nara gradually began to be recognized as the center of prefectural politics. With an eye on modernization, Nara city has been able to make steady progress.
Information：General Affairs Department Public Relation Section
［E-mail（koho@city.nara.nara.jp） ・ Phone（0742-34-4710） ・ Fax．（0742-36-5606）］
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