Hakuhô period 白鳳時代　(645-710)

Nara period 奈良時代 (710-794)

HEIJÔ-KYÔ 平城京 (Nara) .   “Capital of the Peaceful Citadel,” established in 710—at the beginning of the NARA PERIOD.   The capital was moved from the south.   See the Fujiwara capital of the Hakuho period (established in 694, fig. 44), and the new capital of Nara, the Heijo-kyo, to the north of it (fig. 45).   The Heijo-kyo capital was modeled after the Chinese Tang-dynasty capital of Chang'an 長安 (modern-day Xi'an, Shaanxi Province)

Heijô-kyô capital plan:

•  grid system

•  palace at the north side of the city

•  gate to the city on the south

Yakushiji 薬師寺 “Temple of the Medicine Buddha or the Buddha of Healing”

East Pagoda, first half of 8th century (fig. 76)

Main Hall (hondo 本堂), rebuilt in the 1980s after orginal of ca. 730   (fig. 75)

Yakushi, central figure of Yakushi Triad.   Bronze; height 8 ft. 4 in. (2.54 m.) (fig. 102)

eye-opening ceremony 697 Hakuhô era

aniin mudra, gesture of argumentation

Yakushi Triad in the Main Hall (hondo), late 7 th or early 8 th century, Hakuhô era.   Bronze. (fig. 103)

            R:   Nikko 日光 , Bodhisattva of Sunlight

            L:   Gakko 月光 , Bodhisattva of Moonlight