平安京
平安京について僕のギャラリーを通して少しでも知ってくれたら嬉しいです。
平安京の成り立ち
- Portrait of Emperor Kanmu
Emperor Kanmu (737-806) was born the crown prince of Emperor Konin (709-781) and was enthroned in 781. He moved the ancient capital from Nara (Jp. Heijyo-Kyo) to Nagaoka and then to Kyoto (Jp. Heian-Kyo) in 794. He commissioned Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro (758-811) to conquer the indigenous Ezo tribe in the northern territories and sent Priest Saicho (766-822) and Priest Kukai (774-835) to Tang Dynasty China to study Buddhism. After these men returned, Emperor Kanmu appointed Saicho to a high office and helped him establish the Tendai Sect of Buddhism. The emperor contributed greatly to revitalize the ancient administration system based on the rule of law, for example. He established imperial agencies and offices as executive branches of the imperial government. In this portrait, Emperor Kanmu sits on a chair with a backrest placed on a tatami mat with decorated borders, with the interior design resembling a shrine or altar. He is fully clothed in formal coronation attire. Most likely, this portrait was a deified image drawn to be worshipped, for example, on the occasion of annual ceremonies given on March 17 in the emperor’s honor at the Enryakuji Temple in Mt. Hiei. (This temple was founded by the aforementioned Priest Saicho. The ceremony is called the “Tenno-Ko.”) The majesty emanating from the large portrait is one of the best renditions of this powerful ancient ruler.
桓武天皇は794年に都を平安京へ移し、政治を立て直そうとしました。新しい都では、寺院や宮殿などの建物が整えられました。
- 平安京遷都
川尻秋生著,岩波書店
これまでの都は**長岡京**でしたが、災害や政治の不安があったため、新しい都として平安京が建設されました。平安京は、中国の都（唐の長安）にならった碁盤の目のような整った都市でした。新しく造られた都では、宮殿や役所、寺院などが多く建てられました。
平安京全体図
平安時代の文化
<p>Tōji Temple was built to protect Kyoto, which was the imperial capital, through religious rituals. The temple was later granted to the scholar-priest Kūkai (774–835). The five-story pagoda was rebuilt at least four times, with the current one dating to 1644. At fifty-five meters, it is the tallest wooden pagoda in Japan.</p>
どうでしたか？平安時代について少しは関心から理解へと気持ちが変わりましたか？皆さんも平安時代の事柄について調べ理解を深めてみてください。