16 The Nara Capital (an omission) After only sixteen years Fujiwara Capital was moved. Emperor Monmu (r. 697-707) who succeeded Empress Jitou (r. 690-697) passed away at the age of twenty-five. His mother ascended and became Empress Genmei (r. 707-715). During her reign in the second month of the first year of Wadou (708), a decree was given to move the capital again. In the third month of the third year (710), Empress Genmei moved to Nara. In later years, Nara came to be spelled with characters: 　奈　良 but in the ancient period it was spelled with different characters: 　平　城("Flat Castle") There is an expression in the Japanese language "suihei ni narasu (to flatten into a level state)." Thus the area was named "Nara" probably became it was a level plain. We do not fully know why the Fujiwara Capital had to be moved to this site. The decree announcing the change says that the construction of an imperial capital is costly in expense and labour, so a change would be premature. However, it continues, people desire it, so "being unable to disregard the consensus," the decision was made to move the capital. If it must be moved, Nara would be best, in terms of geographical features of mountains and fields. Road construction should start aftar the autumn harvest, so as not to disturb the farmers. In appears that the change was the wish of the people. City planning for this Nara Capital was even more organized than the previous Fujiwara Capital. The land is a square of four kilometers on each side. The square was divided into two rectangles which is slightly short in east-west direction, and slightly long in north-south direction. Suzaku Street was the central dividing line of the two rectangles. The respective rectangles came to be called Sakyou (Left Capital District) and Ukyou (Right Capital District). The Districts were divided from north to south into sections by nine streets. Each section was divided further into eight blocks. The temples previously built in Asuka area such as Koufukuji-Temple, Daianji-Temple, Gangouji-Temple, and Yakushiji-Temple were moved to Nara one by one. They added a majestic touch to the new capital. In the first year of Shinki era (724) during the reign of Emperor Shoumu (r. 724-749), permission was given to the wealthy and high-rankig subjects of the court to build luxurious mansions. This was necessary in order to impress the foreign envoys. To bring magnificence and splendor to the imperial capital, the roof could be tiled, the pillars painted red, and the walls white. By this decree, the capital must have become even more stunning. (an omission) Subsequently for more than seventy years, Nara seved as the capital of Japan under seven imperial reign: Empresses Genmei (r. 707-715), Genshou (r. 715-724), Kouken (r. 749-758), and Shoutoku (r. 764-770), and Emperors Shoumu (r. 724-749), Junnin (r. 758-764), and Kounin (r. 770-781). (Rest omitted)

　

16　平城京 　 （略）藤原京は、十六年で他へ遷される事になりました。即ち持統天皇の次にお立ちに なった文武天皇は、わずか二十五歳でおかくれになり、御母后が即位して、元明天皇と おなりになりますと、和銅元年二月、遷都の詔が下され、同三年三月、平城（なら）に お遷りになりました。後世には奈良と書きますが、古くは平城と云う字を当てました。 「水平にならす」など云うでしょう。「ならした様な平原」の土地に、「なら」と云う 地名がつけられたのでしょう。何故藤原京をやめて、ここへお遷りにならねばならなか ったかはよく分かりませんが、遷都の詔に、帝都の建設は、費用もかかり、労力も容易 でないので、まだその時機では無いと思われるが、皆が希望するので、「衆議忍び難く 」都を遷す事に決定した、遷すとすれば、奈良の地が山野の形勢、最も適当であろう、 ただし秋の収穫がすんで後に、道路を造らせ、百姓に迷惑をかけないようにせよと仰せ られていますので、人々の希望によって行われた事と思われます。 　 　前の藤原京が、すでにそうであったでしょうが、平城京になると、一層区画も整い、 凡そ四キロ四方の土地を、東西はやや短く、南北はやや長い長方形に仕切り、中央に朱 雀大路を通して、左京と右京とを分かち、南北は九条、各条は八坊に分かたれました。 飛鳥地方にあった寺々も、段々と此処に移され、興福寺･大安寺･元興寺、また薬師寺な ど次々に移されて、新しい都の美観を添えました。聖武天皇の神亀元年には、外国の使 臣に対しても、帝都は壮麗である事を必要とするので、身分の高い者や、資産のある者 には、立派な家屋を建設して、屋根には瓦をふき、柱を赤く塗り、壁を白くする事を許 されましたから、一段と美しくなったでしょう。（中略） 　 　これより後、平城京は、元明･元正･聖武･孝謙･淳仁･称徳･光仁の七天皇、凡そ七十余 年の間、都として栄えました。（以下略）

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