Fix the mistake: Heian period

The Transfer to Heian-kyo and Emperor Kanmu's Reforms

In 794, Emperor Kanmu transferred the capital to the new capital, Heian-kyo. This was a major reform intended to escape the influence of the Buddhist powers of Nara and rebuild ritsuryo government.

Basic Knowledge

The Heian period refers to the approximately 400 years from the transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo in 794 to the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate in 1185（or 1192）.
Because politics had become disordered through events such as the Dokyo incident at the end of the Nara period, Emperor Kanmu first transferred the capital to Nagaoka-kyo in 784. However, the plan was disrupted by incidents including an assassination, so he transferred the capital again to Heian-kyo in 794. Heian-kyo corresponds to present-day Kyoto City.
Emperor Kanmu's reforms:
・Transfer to Heian-kyo（794） - Elimination of Nara's Buddhist powers
・Conquest of the Emishi - Bringing the Emishi of northern Japan under control
・Appointment of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as seii taishogun（797）
・Abolition of the corps system・Introduction of the kondei system - Military reform
・Attempt to rebuild the handen-shuju system, though it ultimately encountered difficulties

Further Study (Background and Influence)

Emperor Kanmu transferred the capital to Heian-kyo for several reasons:
① To end the influence of Buddhist powers: Major Nara temples such as Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji had intervened in politics
② The lesson of the Dokyo incident: The monk Dokyo, favored by Empress Shotoku, became powerful enough to seek the throne
③ New politics: A fresh start to rebuild ritsuryo government
④ Geographical advantages: The Kyoto Basin had good water access and was suitable for defense
Heian-kyo was 4.5 km from east to west and 5.2 km from north to south and used nearly the same grid system as Heijo-kyo. The imperial palace was placed in the center of the northern end, Suzaku Avenue（about 84 m wide）ran southward, and the Right and Left Capitals spread out on either side. It was praised as a favorable location with views of the “Thirty-six Peaks of Higashiyama” and abundant water.
The Emishi were people living in the Tohoku region at that time who were not under the control of the Yamato government. To bring them under submission, Emperor Kanmu appointed Sakanoue no Tamuramaro as seii taishogun and sent him on expeditions. In 802, Tamuramaro built Isawa Castle（in present-day Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture） and forced the Emishi leader Aterui to surrender. Aterui was taken to Kyoto and executed, although Tamuramaro is also said to have asked the court to spare his life.
Emperor Kanmu abolished the conscription system（corps system）and introduced the kondei system, selecting sons of local powerful families as kondei to defend their regions. This was intended to reduce the burden on farmers, but it can also be said to have created the conditions for the emergence of samurai.

Points to Note (Easily Confused)

① Do not confuse Heian-kyo（794, Kyoto）with Heijo-kyo（710, Nara）. Heian-kyo was associated with Emperor Kanmu; Heijo-kyo with Empress Genmei. ② Remember the ten years of Nagaoka-kyo（784〜794）. ③ Seii taishogun was initially a temporary post for conquering the Emishi, so its meaning differed from that of the shoguns of the later Kamakura shogunate. ④ The Emishi（pronounced emishi）and the Ezo of Hokkaido（pronounced ezo）were different. Their pronunciations also differed. ⑤ Aterui was an Emishi leader who surrendered to Sakanoue no Tamuramaro and has been reevaluated as a hero of northern Japan. ⑥ “Kondei” is pronounced “kondei,” not “kenji.”

Practice

1. State the emperor who transferred the capital to Heian-kyo and the year of the transfer.
2. State the person who played an active role in the conquest of the Emishi and was appointed seii taishogun.
3. Give two purposes of Emperor Kanmu's transfer of the capital to Heian-kyo.