User:Shinkansen Fan/Heian-kyō
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Heian-kyō (平安京, literally "tranquility and peace capital"), also known as Heian-jō (平安城), was the capital of Japan for over one thousand years, from 794 to 1868 with an interruption in 1180. It was located in central Kyoto. Emperor Kammu established it as the capital in 794, moving the Imperial Court there from nearby Nagaoka-kyō at the recommendation of his advisor Wake no Kiyomaro.[1] Modelled after the Tang Dynasty Chinese capital of Chang'an (modern day Xi'an), it remained the chief political center until 1185, when the samurai Minamoto clan took power, establishing the Kamakura shogunate. This period from 794–1185 is known as the Heian period of Japanese history. Though political power would be wielded by the samurai class over the course of three different shogunates, Kyoto remained the site of the Imperial Court and seat of Imperial authority, and thus remained the official capital. In fact, even after the imperial family and the government moved to Tokyo in 1868, since there is no law which makes Tokyo the capital, there is a view that Kyoto legally or officially remains the capital even today.