In the year 710, the first permanent Japanese capital was established in Nara, a city modelled after the Chinese capital.

Large Buddhist monasteries were built in the new capital. The monasteries quickly gained such strong political influence that, in order to protect the position of the emperor and central government, the capital was moved to Nagaoka in 784, and finally to Heian (Kyoto) in 794 where it should remain for over one thousand years.

Nara period
710 - 784

Comprehensive text about the Nara and Heian periods with many links to other Japanese periods and more links about Japanese religion, art, literature, and culture. in Japan.