Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TIMELINE
544
The first Aoi (Hollyhock) Matsuri is held to pray for an end to calamitous weather that had been
plaguing the city of Kyoto. The festival is still held today in May.
Early 7th century
The vast, fertile plain of the Kyoto basin (then known as Yamashiro-no-kuni) is first settled by the
Hata clan from Korea, along with another clan, the Kamo.
622
Kōryū-ji is established in northwest Kyoto to house a statue given to the Hata clan by Prince Shō-
toku. The temple becomes the tutelary temple of the clan.
784
Emperor Kammu moves the capital from Nara to Nagaoka (a suburb of Kyoto) to avoid the powerful
Buddhist clergy who had previously meddled in the imperial court.
788
Saichō establishes a monastery atop Hiei-zan (Mt Hiei) to protect the city from the 'dangerous'
northeast direction. Saichō starts a school of Buddhism known as Tendai (or Tenzai).
794
Things go poorly in Nagaoka and Emperor Kammu searches in the Kyoto basin for another site for
his capital. Late that year, he finds a suitable spot in present-day Kyoto.
794
A pair of temples, Tō-ji and Sai-ji, are built at the southern edge of the city to protect the city and
the imperial court. Tō-ji can still be visited today.
798
Kiyomizu-dera is established at the foot of the Higashiyama mountains. It is said that the location
was chosen by a priest from Nara who had a vision of a holy spring at the site.
869
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