Ancient Nara

Ancient Nara, established as Japan's first permanent capital from 710 to 794 CE, was a center of political, cultural, and religious development. It featured grand temples, palaces, and government buildings, reflecting Chinese influence through the adoption of Buddhism and Chinese-style governance. This period saw the creation of important art, literature, and the codification of Japanese culture. Nara was also known for its temples like Todai-ji, housing the Great Buddha statue, and its pursuit of a centralized state structure, laying foundational aspects of Japanese civilization that influenced subsequent eras.