Nara the ancient capital

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Nara　奈良



Nara (奈良市, Nara-shi) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture.
Eight temples, shrines and ruins in Nara, specifically Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji and the Heijō Palace remains, together with Kasugayama Primeval Forest, collectively form "Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Deer in Nara
According to the legendary history of Kasuga Shrine, a mythological god Takemikazuchi arrived in Nara on a white deer to guard the newly built capital of Heijō-kyō. Since then the deer have been regarded as heavenly animals, protecting the city and the country.

Tame deer roam through the town, especially in Nara Park. Snack vendors sell "shika sembei" (deer biscuits) to visitors so they can enjoy feeding the deer. Some of the deer have learned to bow in response to tourists' bows. They nudge, jostle, and even bite for food.
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Aoni Yoshi 青丹よし Aoniyoshi
"the green and cinnabar is good"
lit. the aoni refers to a dark-green earth.

This is an old makurakotoba for the old capital of Nara. The red pillars and green window bars of the shrine are auspicious colors to keep evil out of the city.

Many temples and shrines were built with these colors, so a walk in Nara was yoshi, was pleasing and this expression became synonymous with NARA (Heijokyo 平城京 (Heijookyoo).


This expression derived from a famous waka poem.

あおによし 奈良の都は咲く花の におうがごとく 今さかりなり
aoniyoshi Nara no miyako wa saku hana no niou ga gotoku ima sakarinari

Ono no Oyu　小野老　をののおゆ　(?-737)


green and cinnabar are splendid -
like blossoms in full bloom and fragrance
the capital of Nara is now at its best



. Niutsuhime 丹生都比女
This deity is related to cinnabar (shu) and mercury.


あおに　-　青丹　- 《「に」は土の意》
１ 青黒い土。
２ 緑色の顔料の土。岩緑青(いわろくしょう)のこと。(malachite green)
３ 染め色の名。濃い青に黄の加わった色。
４ 襲(かさね)の色目の名。表裏ともに濃い青に黄を加えた色。


Some sources refere to the HANA as cherry blossoms, some think they are plum blossoms.
- Reference : aoni yoshi 青丹(あおに)よし

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"The royal city,
Nara of the blue-green earth,
Like blossoming trees
That shimmer into fragrant bloom,
Is at the height of splendor now.
Tr. Edwin Cranston



The Imperial City of fairest Nara
Glows now at the height of beauty,
Like brilliant flowers in bloom!
Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkokai


Discussion of the various translations:
source : PMJS Listserve forum

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We have some separate entries about the temples, shrines and food of Nara.


. Deities of the Four Seasons
There are deities according to the Chinese theories of Yin and Yang and the five elements. Some have taken a Japanese version, residing in the mountains around the old capital of Heijokyo, now Nara.



. Ganjin 鑑真　がんじん and temple Toshodai-ji 唐招提寺


. Hasedera Temple 長谷寺


. Mount Kaguyama 香具山 Ama no Kaguyama 天香久山 .
Three mountains of the Yamato plain 大和三山 Yamato Sanzan


. Kasuga Shrine Festivals 春日大社 　



. Migawari-zaru 身代わり申 of Naramachi
Monkey to ward off evil



. Nara mosquito net (KIGO) 　

. Nara uchiwa : round fan from Nara (KIGO) 　


. O-Mizutori, Omizutori, お水取り
Drawing Sacred Well Water


. Shotoku Taishi and Daruma
聖徳太子とだるま



. Yakushi-Ji Temple 薬師寺

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. WASHOKU . . . Local Dishes from Nara
Nara no Kyodo Ryori 奈良の郷土料理 　
Nara ... dried persimmons from Yamato 　 大和のつるし柿



. WASHOKU 奈良茶 Naracha
Nara and its Rice Gruel Tea Song .. 　


. WASHOKU
Narazuke 奈良漬 Gourd pickles


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Sentokun せんとくん the mascot of Nara
To mark the anniversary of 1.300 years of the ancient capital of Heijo-kyo in 2010
平城遷都1300年祭

Reference about this controversial mascot


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菊の香や奈良には古き仏たち
kiku no ka ya Nara ni wa furuki hotoketachi

fragrance of chrysanthemums -
in Nara there are so many
old Buddha statues



菊の香や奈良は幾代の男ぶり
kiku no ka ya Nara wa ikuyo no otokoburi

fragrance of chrysanthemums -
the manly attitude of so many
men in Nara


Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉


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Masaoka Shiki wrote quite a few haiku about Nara,
mostly about the many temples of the town


行く秋や奈良は古寺古佛
yuku aki ya Nara wa furudera furubotoke

autumn is passing -
in Nara there are old temples
and old Buddha statues



永き日の奈良は大寺許りなり
nagaki hi no Nara wa Daiji bakari nari

this long day -
in Nara there are only
big temples



澁柿や古寺多き奈良の町
shibugaki ya koji ooki Nara no machi

adstringend persimmons -
there are so many temples
in the town of Nara




寺々に秋行く奈良の月夜かな
teradera ni aki yuku Nara no tsukiyo kana

in the many temples of Nara
autumn is coming to an end -
this full moon night


Masaoka Shiki (正岡子規)


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Edo, The City That Became Tokyo
..... Edo and Kyoto, Capitals of Japan
"Blossom Capital" flourishing town (hana no miyako 花の都)



Honka-dori
is an action to write a new poem
but alluding to a honka, original poem.
'honka-dori, honkadori ほんかどり【本歌取り】


. Folk Toys from Nara .


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