Kyoto Imperial Palace
Kyōto Imperial Palace ( Japanese 京都 御所 Kyōto Gosho ) was the residence of the Emperor of Japan for most of its history . This began with the Heian period , when the imperial capital moved from Heijō-kyō ( Nara ) to Heian-kyō , today's Kyōto . The function as official residence ended with the Meiji Restoration , when the emperor moved his seat to Edo , today's Tōkyō ( Tokyo Imperial Palace ). The emperors Taishō and Shōwa celebrated their coronation ceremonies in the Imperial Palace of Kyoto.
In general, the Gosho in Kyoto refers to all buildings in the walled park area between the streets Imadegawa in the north, Marutamachi in the south, Karasuma in the west and Teramachi in the east with an area of about 1100 × 600 m. In a narrower sense, Gosho refers to the inner palace complex in the northern half of the site.
The Imperial Court Office maintains the building and the area, which is also officially called Kyōto Gyoen ( 京都 御苑 , German "Imperial Gardens of Kyoto"). The park area is available to the general public around the clock, and the green areas can also be used to pass the time, similar to European parks. The palace complex itself is opened to the public for a week in spring and autumn. Foreign guests can visit the facilities all year round after registering on site.
history
The current Kyoto Gosho goes to the second residence ( 里内裏 , satodairi ) Tsuchimikado-dono ( 土御門殿 ) and Tsuchimikado Higashi no Toin-dono ( 土御門東洞院殿 ) in Heian-kyo back that almost 500 meters east of the Imperial Palace Daidairi away, but was the real center of power.
After that, the palace was destroyed by fire several times and rebuilt. When the palace burned down again in 1788, Matsudaira Sadanobu was commissioned by the shogunate to rebuild it. In 1790, Sadanobu left based on Uramatsu Kozens ( 裏 松 固Sh ) Daidairi Zukōshō ( 大 内 裏 図 考証 ) the Jōmei-mon ( 承 明 門 ), the Shishin-den ( 紫宸 殿 ) and the Seiryō-den ( 清涼 殿 ) according to the heian - Reconstruct historical models. In 1854 the palace was destroyed again by fire, but was rebuilt in its current form the following year.
Buildings and grounds
In addition to the Imperial Residence ( 内 裏 , dairi ), the palace grounds have a number of other buildings. In the north of the residence is Sentō ( 仙洞 ), the residence of the resigned emperor. To the north of the Gosho, across Imadegawa Street , is Dōshisha University .
The main building on the palace grounds includes, among other halls, the hall for state ceremonies ( 紫宸 k Shishinden , purple imperial hall ), Seiryōden ( 清涼 殿 , cool / refreshing hall ), courtyard ( 小 kleines Kogosho , small, imperial room ), Ogakumonsho ( 御 学問 所 , imperial study room or library ) as well as a number of residences for the empress, high-ranking aristocrats and government officials.
The main gate on the south side of the palace has a roof made of cypress wood and is supported by four pillars. Famous and sacred trees are planted on both sides: a cherry ( sakura ) on the left, a tachibana tree on the right. This gate is only used on the rare occasions when the emperor receives foreign diplomats or dignitaries and at other important state ceremonies. There are fences on the sides that separate the inner parts from the general palace grounds.
Directly behind the main gate is a cinnabar painted and tiled second gate that leads to Shishinden, the hall for state ceremonies. The shishinden was used for such important ceremonies as the coronation of emperors and the establishment of crown princes. It is 33 × 23 m in size and built in a traditional style with gables and four sloping roof sides.
The center of the Shishinden is surrounded by a Hisashi ( 庇 ), a long narrow corridor, as it is common in aristocratic houses of the traditional architecture of Heian. A wider, open space opens up, bridged by areas covered with mats that lead to the central throne room. The throne itself, called Takamikura ( 高 御座 ), stands on an octagonal platform five meters above the floor and can be separated from the rest of the room by a curtain. The sliding doors that hide the emperor from view are called kenjō no shōji ( 賢聖 障 子 , dt. "Sliding door of the wise and saints") and are painted with a picture of 32 saints, which is one of the most important models for the painting of the Heian Time was coming.
The Seiryōden is located west of the Shishinden with the front facing east. It also has a sloping roof with gables and is mainly made of cypress wood. Originally this was the place where the emperor regulated his personal affairs. Later it was also used for various assemblies and gatherings. In the middle there is an area where the emperor rested, on the east side of the hall an area of two tatami was reserved as a seat for aristocrats and dignitaries. Here the emperor could regulate formal affairs. On the north side of the hall was an enclosed area where the emperor slept at night. Later, the emperors began to use the official residence ( dairi ) for this purpose. The west side was reserved for the emperor's breakfast and also contained the toilets, the south side was used by the imperial archivist. This area had various paintings by masters of the Tosa School and various rare types of bamboo were planted in front of the building .
Individual evidence
- ↑ William Howard Coaldrake: Architecture and Authority in Japan . Routledge, 1996, ISBN 0-415-10601-X , p. 91
- ↑ 内 裏 か ら 京都 御所 へ: 京都 御所 の 変 遷 . Kyōto City General Affairs Office (Sōmu-sho) ̄, accessed December 21, 2008 (Japanese).
Web links
- Details on visiting the Imperial Palaces in Tokyo and Kyoto (English-language website of the Imperial Court Authority)
- Imperial Palace of Kyoto at Culture-in-Asia: Part 1 with description - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8
- Photos of the Imperial Palace of Kyoto
Coordinates: 35 ° 1 ′ 31 ″ N , 135 ° 45 ′ 44 ″ E