Nara period

The Nara period (奈良時代 Nara jidai?) of the history of Japan covers the years from AD 710 to 794.[1] Empress Gemmei established the capital of Heijō-kyō (present-day Nara). Except for 5 years (740–745), when the capital was briefly moved again, it remained the capital of Japanese civilization until Emperor Kammu established a new capital, Nagaoka-kyō, in 784 before moving to Heian-kyō, or Kyoto, a decade later in 794. The capital at Nara was modeled after Chang'an, the capital city of Tang China.[2]