Hiraizumi (Iwate)

Hiraizumi Town Hall
Hiraizumi-chō ; 平泉町
Geographical location in Japan
Region :	Tōhoku
Prefecture :	Iwate
Coordinates :	38 ° 59 ' N , 141 ° 7' E Coordinates: 38 ° 59 '12 " N , 141 ° 6' 49" E
Basic data
Surface:	63.39 km²
Residents :	7389 ; (October 1, 2019)
Population density :	117 inhabitants per km²
Community key :	03402-9
Symbols
Flag / coat of arms:
Tree :	Crescent fir
Flower :	Cherry Blossom
Bird :	Japanese Bush Warbler
town hall
Address :	Hiraizumi Town Hall ; 45 - 2 , Aza Shirayama, Hiraizumi; Hiraizumi -chō, Nishiiwai-gun ; Iwate 029-4192
Website URL:	http://www.town.hiraizumi.iwate.jp
Location of Hiraizumis in Iwate Prefecture

Hiraizumi ( Japanese 平泉町 , - chō ) is a city in Nishiiwai County in Iwate Prefecture in Japan .

history

The Ōshū - Fujiwara had been one of the most powerful families in Japan since the middle of the seventh century. They ruled the Tōhoku region (northern Japan) around 1000-1200 and chose the city of Hiraizumi as their residence, from where they could rule relatively undisturbed by the central power in Heian-kyō . Due to its proximity to the holy mountain Kanzan, Hiraizumi was already considered the religious center of the region and was strategically located.

The city flourished soon after the election. Archaeological excavations in the late 1980s / early 1990s uncovered the remains of a large castle, probably the residence of the third prince of Hiraizumi, as well as many temples. There were also many clay bowls called kawarake and even Chinese porcelain , more than anywhere else in Japan, except in Kyoto and Hakata . At that time, Hiraizumi had a population of 100,000-150,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in Japan. For comparison: in Japan there were around 10 million people at that time and 160,000–300,000 in the capital Heian-kyō.

The city owes its great wealth to lively trade relations with the rest of Japan and also in the north, with the Ainu on Hokkaidō and even as far as Sakhalin and the nearby mainland. Sea lion and bear skins, gold - soaps and seaweed were purchased from Hokkaidō . However, trade also brought great cultural changes for the Ainu, because they gave up their own pottery art through the iron pots they imported.

The city of Hiraizumi went under together with the Fujiwara family in 1189. Only the most important temples remained, the rest of the city was razed to the ground. The trade relations, however, continued even after the fall of Hiraizumi. Today there is only this community of the same name from the then Hiraizumi aside from the temples.

In June 2011, the temples, gardens and archaeological sites were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO .

Attractions

Konjikido

Palace pond

Main hall of the motsu-ji

Although many former palaces fell into disrepair over time, Hiraizumi is still home to some important architectural treasures of Japan, including many Buddhist temples . The best known is the Chūson-ji ( 中尊寺 ) in the mountains with the mausoleum of Ōshū Fujiwara, the magnificent Golden Hall ( 金色堂 , Konjikidō ) made of gold leaf and mother-of-pearl .

Below in Hiraizumi is the lake of the former temple of the Fujiwara , built in the style of the Heian period . On the south side is the Mōtsū-ji ( 毛越寺 ).

The Geibiki Gorge with the Satetsu River is attractive in terms of landscape .

Neighboring cities and communities

Individual evidence

↑ unesco.org: New Inscribed Properties - 2011 (accessed June 26, 2011).

Web links

Commons : Hiraizumi - collection of images, videos and audio files

Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

[1] unesco.org: New Inscribed Properties - 2011 (accessed June 26, 2011).