Heian

Due to the crisis in Nara, Japan and the many threats, demonstrations of "rowdy monks," and the growing power of the monks in this capital city led to its demise. In 794 the emperor Kammu establushed a new saoital city at Heian, which was later called Kyoto. Buddhists were forbidden to build monastaries in the new capital. However, to get around this restriction many of the monks would build monastaries in the hills surrounding the city, and later reemerged as a huge force at court as royal advisors. Along with the restrictions of monastaries, the emperor also abandoned all ideas of continuing the Taika reforms.

Created by Anna Mack 11/10/08