Information AboutNara, Japan |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT NARA, NARA | |
| cities in nara prefecture | |
| holy cities | |
| buddhist pilgrimage | |
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HISTORY See Heijo Palace and Nara Period Nara was the capital of Japan during most of the Nara Period , from 710 to 784 . The city was modelled after the capital of Tang Dynasty China , Chang'an (present-day Xi'an ). The capital was then relocated to Nagaoka-kyō in Yamashiro Province , before being moved to Heian-kyō in 794 , the start of the Heian Period . In the modern age, as the seat of the prefectural government, Nara has developed into a local center of commerce and government. The city was officially incorporated on February 1 , 1898 . WILDLIFE IN NARA Nara is famous for its tame deer that roam all over the town, and especially in the park areas. Snack vendors sell small circular biscuits to visitors so they can enjoy feeding the deer. The deer are often a bit overly familiar and cheeky if they see you have biscuits, and can nudge and jostle for attention to be fed; be warned if you have small children because they might be a bit scared if a group of deer start crowding you for food. ORIGIN OF THE NAME "NARA" There is an urban legend about the origin of the name of the city "Nara" that is widely believed among Korean people. It argues that "Nara" came from a Korean word for nation that has a similar pronunciation. However, this is unfounded as the said Korean word is of the modern Korean language and there exists little historical record to know what the ancient Baekje language was like around the time of the establishment of Nara. Most historians and philologists believe that the name of the city came form a Japanese word , which means 'made flat'. DEMOGRAPHICS As of 2003 , the city has an estimated Population of 364,869 and the Density of 1,724.33 persons per Km² . The total area is 211.60 km². SISTER CITIES
FAMOUS PLACES Because of its many temples and shrines, Nara is a famous tourist destination. Mythologically speaking, it is said that when the first emperor of Japan, Jimmu, descended from heaven, he rode a deer and arrived in Nara. The sacred deer that wander Nara are said to be its descendants. Around temples and shrines, sacred deer wander around the streets and request food from tourists (deer food is sold on the premises).
EDUCATION Schools in Nara include the Todaiji Gakuen , founded by the temple in 1926. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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