A. First "permanent" imperial capital (Heijo) 

1. Earlier capital at Fujiwara-kyo (694-710)

2. Modeled after Tang capital Chang'an

3. Orderly design symbolized imperial rule

4. Imperial power clearly centralized

B. Nara Buddhism: Six "Sects" of Scholasticism

1. "Theravada" Varieties

a. Ritsu -- ordination, precepts, discipline

b. Kusha--Vasubandhu's Abhidharmakosa

c. Jojitsu--Hariman's Satyasiddhi sastra

2. "Mahayana" Varieties

a. Sanron (Sanlun-- Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka-sastra

b. Hosso (Ch: Faxiang)--Yogacara School

c. Kegon (Ch:Huayan)-- Avatamsaka sutra

3. Emperor Shomu (r. 724-49)

a. Promoter of Kegon "Flower Garland" Buddhism

b. Kegon promoted during Tang dynasty (618-906)

i. Early Tang rulers Daoist in outlook

ii. Empress Wu lavishly supported Huayan

iii. Later Tang rulers followed

c. Kegon doctrines

i. sunyata central

ii. interpenetration of all things

iii. Buddha-hood in all things

d. Todaiji "Great Eastern Temple" constructed

i. daibutsu "Great Buddha" 

3 million pounds of bronze

53 feet high

ii. kokubunji "provincial temple" network

iii. Emperor Shomu ---slave of the Buddha

C. Nara Literature

1. Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters, 712)

2. Nihon shoki / Nihongi (Annals of Japan, 720)

3. Manyoshu (Myriad Leaves, ca. 760)

a. tanka--short poem  5-7-5-7-7 (31 syllables)

b. choka--long poem

A. Empress Shotoku dismissed Fujiwara

B. Monk Dokyo rose to power

1. 764 appointed Priestly Grand Minister
2. 766 named Hoo Priestly Retired Emperor
3. 770 Hachiman oracle denied him the throne

C. Empress Shotoku's demise led to Dokyo's downfall

D. Emperor Kammu moves capital to Nagaoka