Itabuki Palace

Itabuki Palace (板蓋宮, Itabuki no miya) is a former Imperial Palace located in modern-day Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Honshu. It was the imperial residence when the capital was located in Nara.[1] There were at least four palaces constructed on the site.[2]

History

It had served as an imperial palace for the Emperors of Japan in the 7th century when the capital was located in Asuka, Yamato.[3] The palace is in ruins and currently little remain.[4]

The building was constructed and finished by autumn 642 CE during the time of Kogyuko, who occupied the building in 643 CE.[5]

From 643 to 645 CE, the palace served as the palace during the reign of Empress Kōgyoku when it was moved from Oharida-no-miya. It lost its status as palace when she abdicated the throne.[6] Emperor Kōtoku had returned the imperial residence to the palace, the same palace which was continued by Koyoku as the official residence upon her return and second reign as empress.[7][8]

Itabuki Palace is the location of the Isshi Incident. This event saw Japanese statesman Fujiwara no Kamatari, then prince Prince Naka no Ōe, and others conspire in their effort to eliminate the main branch of the Soga clan. This effort successfully cleansed the near-total influence and control the Soga clan had over the imperial family. With the leader Soga no Iruka deceased and the family members dispersed, the prince was made heir apparent. This led to the issuance of issuance of the Taika Reform, a turning point in history that moved feudal Japan into a more centralized government with the Emperor as the Supreme power.

Construction

The palace had a roof with wooden planks instead of the traditional thatch covering.[9] It was built alongside a temple. Archeological work at Asuka in Nara began in 1951 and had uncovered the foundations of the palace.[5]

References
  1. Record of Miraculous Events in Japan: The Nihon ryoiki. Columbia University Press. 2013-07-23. ISBN 978-0-231-53516-8.
  2. JAPAN, WOW!. "Five Historic Spots in Japan to Experience Ancient Japan". WOW! JAPAN. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  3. Farris, William Wayne (1998). Sacred Texts and Buried Treasures: Issues in the Historical Archaeology of Ancient Japan. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-2030-5.
  4. "Asuka Itabuki Palace Ruins". Exploring the Footsteps of the Heroines of Asuka. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  5. Higham, Charles (2014-05-14). Encyclopedia of Ancient Asian Civilizations. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-0996-1.
  6. "ASUKA/miyahensen". www.asukanet.gr.jp. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2019-11-29.
  7. Ponsonby-Fane, p. 21.
  8. Ponsonby-Fane, p. 23.
  9. McCallum, Donald Fredrick (2009). The Four Great Temples: Buddhist Archaeology, Architecture, and Icons of Seventh-Century Japan. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-3114-1.

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