Heian Jingu Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

The Heian Jingu was built in 1895 for the 1,100th anniversary of the establishment of Heiankyo (the old name of Kyoto) as the capital of Japan. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Kanmu, who decided to move the capital to Kyoto, and Emperor Komei.

I thought Komei the last ruler of the Heian Capital who moved the capital to Tokyo. I was wrong. Thanks to Keitaro for correcting my note. "The emperor who moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo is Emperor Meiji. After his father Komei died in 1867, he moved his court to Tokyo in 1869. Meiji was 17years old at this time. You can see him as the young emperor in the American film "The last samurai". Although this film is not based on true history, it is less unacceptable than other crazy American films about samurai."

The Main Gate (Oten-mon), Great Hall of State (Daigokuden) and other brightly coloured buildings are smaller-scale replicas (2/3) of buildings in the first imperial palace built 794.

As usual I've got the white sky of winter but with the polarizer I managed to get a bit of color in the sky.

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Critiques | Translate

nekoyama (572) 2007-08-18 20:14

Bonjour Jeanloup,
Nice composition. And I like a contrast between two kind of red colours of wooden structures.
I like Heian shrine. Though it is not enough old to be regarded as a cultural heritage of Kyoto, it is good place to visit with a bautiful garden. And it is a good example of Heian Revival-styled architecture in the modern times.
Thanks for sharing!

About your note:
The emperor who moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo is Emperor Meiji. After his father Komei died in 1867, he moved his court to Tokyo in 1869. Please correct it if you don't mind.

Meiji was 17years old at this time. You can see him as the young emperor in the American film "The last samurai". Although this film is not based on true history, it is less unacceptable than other crazy American films about samurai.

(As a minority opinion, some people say that emperor Meiji had never officially declared the relocation of the capital. So some of old Kyotoites are claiming that Kyoto still is the imperial capital of Japan even today. But I think that this opinion is ignorable now.)

Have a nice sunday!
Keitaro

GilbertB (12246) 2007-08-20 3:40

Salut Jean Loup, belle vue de cette pagode, bon POV. Amitiés.
Gilbert

MarcT (20983) 2009-01-19 22:02

Salut Jean-Loup,
Joli jeu de perspectives. Les couleurs, la netteté, la composition sont bonnes. Petit regret pour le ciel trop "clair", un peu surex...
Amicalement
Marc

Photo Information

Copyright: JeanLoup Castaigne (jloup) (622)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-12-24
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Nikon D70, Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 EX DC HSM, RAW @ ISO 200, 77mm Cokin Circular Polarizer
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Japan, 2006
Date Submitted: 2007-08-18 7:55