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[[File:Rokkakudo.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The [[Rokkakudo|Rokkakudô]], established in the early 7th century, as seen through the glass walls of a Starbuck's.]]
*Japanese: 京都 ''(Kyouto)''
*Japanese: 京都 ''(Kyouto)''
*''Other names:'' 平安京 ''(Heian-kyou)'', 京市 ''(Keishi)'', 都 ''(Miyako)''
*''Other names:'' 平安京 ''(Heian-kyou)'', 京市 ''(Keishi)'', 都 ''(Miyako)''
==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Heiankyo-Model.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Model of the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace|Heian Imperial Palace]] and parts of the city as they might have looked in the [[Heian period]]. Reproduction at Kyoto City Heiankyo Sosei-Kan Museum.]]
Kyoto was built on the model of the Chinese city of [[Chang'an]] (today called Xi'an), its location carefully chosen and layout carefully arranged according to Chinese concepts of geomancy. The center of the city is for the most part laid out in a grid, with the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]] at the center, its gates facing the cardinal directions. [[Buddhist temple]]s in the mountains on the eastern side of the city (the [[Higashiyama]] area) were purposefully erected there to defend the city from spiritual dangers and corruptive forces which are traditionally believed to flow from that direction.
Kyoto was built on the model of the Chinese city of [[Chang'an]] (today called Xi'an), its location carefully chosen and layout carefully arranged according to Chinese concepts of geomancy. The center of the city is for the most part laid out in a grid, with the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace|Imperial Palace]] at the center, its gates facing the cardinal directions. [[Buddhist temple]]s in the mountains on the eastern side of the city (the [[Higashiyama]] area) were purposefully erected there to defend the city from spiritual dangers and corruptive forces which are traditionally believed to flow from that direction.
==History==
==History==
[[File:Heian-gate.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The main gate to [[Heian Shrine]], established [[1895]], but based on the architectural style of the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace|Heian Imperial Palace]] of the 8th-12th centuries.]]
[[File:Ginkaku.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The Silver Pavilion at [[Ginkaku-ji]], and rock garden, built by Shogun [[Ashikaga Yoshimasa]] in [[1482]].]]
[[File:Owariya.jpg|right|thumb|320px|The [[Owari-ya]] [[soba]] shop, established [[1465]].]]
Heian-kyô was built with the express purpose of becoming the seat of Imperial power, and became the capital in 794, marking the end of the [[Nara Period]].
Heian-kyô was built with the express purpose of becoming the seat of Imperial power, and became the capital in 794, marking the end of the [[Nara Period]].