The Nara Period in Japan lasted from 710 to 749 AD. During this time, Japan's first true capital and city, Heijo (Nara), was established as the Imperial Family resided there and extended their authority across Japan. The Nara era was marked by lavish spending on Buddhist temples, statues, art, and texts. Emperor Shomu had the Great Buddha of Nara built to help save souls and shift administration's philosophy to Buddhism due to troubles at the time. Important literary works like Kojiki and Nihon Shoki were also written in this period, which saw the establishment of a centralized government and legal system under the Taiho Code.

1. Japanese Nara Period

2. Nara Period (A.D. 710-
749)
 The Nara Period began with the finshing of Heijo,
Nara
 Japan's first true capital and first true city-710 A.D.
 Japan's Imperial Family resided in Nara and gradually
extended its authority across the country
 The Nara era was marked by lavish court spending on
Buddhist temples, statues, art, and texts

3. Ancient Map of Japan during the Nara
period

4. Nara City
 Nara city itself was
modeled after Changan,
the capital of Tang Dynasty
China
 City was divided into
western capital and eastern
capital
 100,000 people thought to
have lived in Nara
 Royal family and nobles
numbering about 100
people

5. Emperor Shomu
 45th emperor of Japan
 Became emperor after his father died while still an
infant
 had four Empresses and six Imperial sons and
daughters

6. Reasons Emperor Shomu
had the Great Buddha of
Nara Built
 decision was made after he’d been worrying about his
leadership in 734
 “The emperor had studied Confucianism and Chinese
history books for ideas about administering the affairs
of state, and in this time of trouble he decided to shift
his administration's basic philosophy from
Confucianism to Buddhism,”-quote from the document
written by Kosei Morimoto
 Had also been known the emperor blamed himself for
the increase in crimes and had temples and statues
such as the Great Buddha of Nara to help save souls

7. Seated Yakushi Nyorai
(Bhaisajyaguru)

8.  Nara period is often portrayed as Japan’s first great
age of artistic statuary genius
 artistic contributions of the Nara era were curtailed by
the court’s embrace of Tang culture and Chinese
traditions
 Buddhism had not been widely excepted and because
of this it was mainly for the upper class

9.  Some Japan's literary monuments were written during
the Nara period
 Buddhism became permanently established in Nara
period
 Central government established many temples which
remained in Japan after this period was over

10. Kojiki
 Means “Records of Ancient Matters”
 Oldest extant chronicle in Japan dating from early 8th
century
 Divided into three parts known as
 The Kamitsumaki
 The Nakatsumaki
 The Shimotsumaki

11. Nihon Shoki
 Can be translated as The Chronicles of Japan
 Second oldest book of classical Japanese history
 Begins by explaining the origin of the world with the
Japanese creation myth
 Written in classical Chinese
 There are 30 chapters in all

12. Kojiki Nihon Shoki

13. Taiho Ritsuryo
or
“Taiho Code”
 This was the first central law code of Japan which was
established at the end of the Asuka period.
 Made it so the emperor was required to show
kindness to his people, created a medical care
system, two government branches and attempted to
bring peace and order to the Nara period.

14. End of Nara Period
 Emperor moved the capital several different locations
which shifted change in the empire
 this period was distinctive because of it being the first
Japanese nation to rule under law