• Co-ordinates: 34°34′N 135°46′E
• Island: Honshu
• Region: Kansai
• Capital: Nara

• See also: Yamato Province
  
• See also: List of Prefectures.

Nara Prefecture

Nara Prefecture (奈良県 – Nara-ken) is located on the island of Honshu. As a land-locked Prefecture it is bordered on all sides. Kyoto Prefecture to the North, Mie to the West, Wakayama on its southern border; and Osaka Prefecture to the west.

Geography

Rivers:

The principal rivers of the prefecture are the Yoshinogawa, Yamatogawa and Totsugawa

Mountains:

Aside from the Nara Basin which can be found to the north, and the Yamato Kōgen highlands,  mountains encompass most of Nara. Along the west, the Ikoma and Kongō mountains are located, with the Kii Mountains found to the south.¹ The three mountains collectively known as Yamato Sanzan can be found here. Traditionally one is said to have descended from Heaven², and another to be the mountain where the first Emperor, Jimmu, was buried..¹ The religion of Shugendo is said to have been founded on Mount Katsuragi by En no Ozunu.⁴ Mount Miwa is also found here and has connections to the kami Ōkuninushi.²

Tectonic Plates:

The Median Tectonic Line run through the centre of the Prefecture towards the east and west along the Yoshinogawa..¹

History

Evidence of habitation during the Jōmon period (c.10,000-300BC) and suceeding Yayoi Period (c.300BC-300AD) has shown people to have farmed here for more than 2000 years.

Betwen the 4th and 7th centuried this area was the centre of the Yamato Court, and when the Kokugen System came into effect this area became known as Yamato Province. The city of Nara, then known as Heijōkyō was the capital of Japan up until 784 when it was moved to Nagaokakyō.

The area served for a brief time as the centre for poitical power during the time of the Northern and Southern Courts between 1337 and 1392.

Its borders were officially established in 1887.¹

Farming

Tea is grown on the higlands of the Yamato Kōgen, and persimmons are cultivated in the valley where the Yoshinogawa flows..¹

Points of Interest

The oldest road, in Japan, known as the Yamanobe no Michi, can be found in the east of the Nara Basin. The Yoshino-Kumano National Park can also be found here. In addition, a tomb called the Takamatsuzuka Tomb, dating to around 700AD can be found in the village of Asuka.¹

Yōkai

The Yōkai known as the Gagoze is said to have lived in the temple of Gango-ji in Nara City, with Kasuga Taisha being reported to have been built by the creatures known as the Hyōsube.³

Footnotes

1. Kodansha. (1993) ”Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia”. Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd.
2. Yasumaro. O, translated by Gustav Heldt. (2014) “Kojiki. An Account of Ancient Matters”. New York: Columbia University Press.
3. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
4. Yoda, H & Alt, M. (2012) “Ninja Attack: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai and Outlaws” Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Nara Prefecture appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

• Co-ordinates: 34°40′53″N 135°50′54″E
• Region: Kansai
• Prefecture: Nara Prefecture
• Founded: 768AD
• Affiliation: Shinto

Kasuga Taisha

Kasuga Taisha (春日大社) is a Shinto Shrine located in Nara.

According to folklore, it is said to have been built with the help of the Yōkai known as the Hyōsube.¹

External Links

• Official Shrine Website

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Kasuga Taisha appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.

Hyōsube

Hyōsube (ひょうすべ) are a type of Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyo and Hyakkai Zukan. They are basically a kind of enchanted doll and can find their origins linked to the Kasuga Grand Shrine in Nara. The story states they helped build this temple before being sent to Kyushu and unceremoniously dumped in a river their near to Shiomi Jinga. Angry that they have been discarded the return seeking revenge, attacking all those who come near the waters they were dumped in. Eventually a man by the name of Hyōbu-taifu comes to deal with the Yōkai and end the threat they pose. This man was also the origins behind the name of the Yōkai.¹

Other Depictions

Bakemono no e

External Links

• View the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō online here: Gazu Hyakki Yagyō Online.

Footnotes

1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium: Illustrated: The Yokai Encyclopaedia of Toriyama Sekien.”. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.

List of Supernatural Creatures

Abura akago * Aka Manto * Akaname * Akashita * Amanozako * Amefuri Kozo * Ameonna * Amikiri * Aoandō * Aōbozu * Aonyobo * Aosagi no hi * Ayakashi * Buruburu * Chochin bi * Dōjōji no kane * Dōmeki * Dorotabō * Enenra * Funa Yurei * Furaribi * Fūri * Furutsubaki no rei * Gaikotsu * Ganbari Nyudo * Gagoze * Gangikozō * Gensuke * Haka no hi * Hangonkō * Hannya * Hashi-Hime * Hatahiro * Hiderigami * Hikeshi baba * Himamushi-nyūdō * Hinode * Hitodama * Hitotsume Kozō * Hiyoribo * Hōkō * Hone Onna * Hyōsube * Ikiryō * Inugami * Jakotsubaba * Jatai * Jorōgumo * Kamaitachi * Kamikiri * Kanedama * Kageonna * Kappa * Kasha * Katawa Guruma * Kawa Akago * Kawauso * Kazenbō * Kidōmaru * Kitsunebi * Kejoro * Kerakeraonna * Kodama * Kokuribaba * Kosamebō * Kosode no te * Kosenjo no hi * Kurozuka * Makurageishi * Mikoshi * Minobi * Momiji-gari * Momonjii * Morinji no Kama * Nekomata * Ningyo * Ninmenju * Noderabō * Nopperabo * Nuppeppō * Nurarihyon * Nureonna * Nuribotoke * Nyūnai Suzume * Obariyon * Oboro-guruma * Ōkaburo * Ōkubi * Okiku * Ōmagatoki * Oni * Onihitokuchi * Onmoraki * Osakabe * Oshiroibaba * Otoroshi * Ouni * Ōzatō * Rokurokubi * Sakabashira * Samebito * Sansei * Sarakozoe * Satori * Sesshō-seki * Seta * Shinkirō * Shirachigo * Shiranui * Shōkera * Shokuin * Shuten-dōji * Sōgenbi * Suiko * Takaonna * Tamamo-no-mae * Tanuki * Tenasobi * Tenjō-Kudari * Tengu * Tengu Tsubute * Tenome * Teratsutsuki * Tesso * Tōdaiki * Tōfu Kozō * Tsurubebi * Ubagabi * Ubume * Umibozū * Umizatō * Ushinotoki-mairi * Ushioni * Uwan * Waira * Wani * Wanyudo * Yamabiko * Yamauba * Yamawarawa * Yanari * Yukionna * Zenki and Goki

	Check out the Japan Archives, our Japanese History Podcast. Instagram (Japan): @japan_archives
	Check out our Gaming Channel on Youtube. Instagram (Minecraft): @mycenria
	Find the website useful? Please consider donating to help up keep the website running.

The post Hyōsube appeared first on . A History . . of Japan . 日本歴史.