Visual Timeline: Nara Period

To navigate the timeline, click and drag it with your mouse, or click on the timeline overview on the bottom.

700 CE 710 CE 720 CE 730 CE 740 CE 750 CE 760 CE 770 CE 780 CE 790 CE 800 CE  
 
707 CE - 715 CE: Reign of Empress Gemmei in Japan.
 
 
710 CE: The Buddhist Kofukuji temple is established at Nara, main temple of the Japanese Fujiwara clan.
 
 
710 CE - 784 CE: Nara is the capital of ancient Japan.
 
 
710 CE: Date favoured by historians for the founding of the Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine at Nara, Japan.
 
 
710 CE - 794 CE: The Nara Period in ancient Japan.
 
 
710 CE: The Japanese capital is moved from Fujiwara-kyo to Nara (aka Heijokyo).
 
 
711 CE: The Fushimi Inari shrine, dedicated to the Shinto rice god Inari, is founded near Kyoto.
 
 
712 CE: The Kojiki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
 
713 CE: The Japanese Fudoki are composed and record local kami and associated legends.
 
715 CE - 724 CE: Reign of Empress Gensho in Japan.
 
 
718 CE: Yakushiji temple is relocated from Fujiwara-kyo to Nara.
 
 
720 CE: The Nihon Shoki is written, a collection of oral myths forming the basis of the Shinto religion.
 
724 CE - 749 CE: Reign of Emperor Shomu in Japan.
 
735 CE - 737 CE: Japan suffers two smallpox epidemics which kills 25-35% of the population.
 
 
740 CE: A rebellion led by the Fujiwara exile Hirotsugu is quashed by Emperor Shomu.
 
 
747 CE: A statue of Hachiman is ceremoniously transferred from the Shinto Usa shrine to the Buddhist Todaiji shrine in Nara, Japan.
 
749 CE - 758 CE: First reign of Empress Koken in Japan.
 
751 CE: The Kaifuso anthology of Japanese poems is compiled.
 
 
752 CE: The Buddhist Todaiji temple is founded at Nara, Japan.
 
758 CE - 764 CE: Reign of emperor Junnin in Japan.
 
759 CE: The Manyoshu or 'Collection of 10,000 Leaves' is written, an important Shinto source and classic of Japanese poetry.
 
764 CE - 770 CE: Second reign of Empress Koken, now known as Shotoku, in Japan.
 
 
768 CE: Official founding date of the Kasuga Taisha Shinto shrine at Nara, Japan.
 
770 CE - 781 CE: Reign of Emperor Konin in Japan.
 
781 CE - 806 CE: Reign of Emperor Kammu in Japan.
 
 
785 CE: Saicho establishes the first Buddhist shrine at what would become the Enryakuji temple complex on Mt. Hiei, Japan.
 
 
794 CE: Emperor Kammu moves the Japanese capital to Heiankyo (Kyoto).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
700 CE 720 CE 740 CE 760 CE 780 CE 800 CE