Heian-Kyō
/heːaŋkʲoː/noun
The historical name of Japan’s imperial capital founded in 794 CE at the site of modern Kyoto.
Did you know?Heian-Kyō was designed on a Chinese-style grid and aligned with geomantic principles, including protective directional symbolism associated with the Four Heavenly Guardians.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
平安
“Peace, safety, and tranquility”
Classical Chinese
Chinese
京
“Capital or great city”
8th Century
Japanese
Heian
“Japanese reading of 平安, meaning peace and tranquility”
794 CE
Japanese
平安京 (Heian-kyō)
“Capital of Peace and Tranquility, the new imperial capital established by Emperor Kanmu”
11th–12th Centuries
Japanese
Heian-kyō
“The imperial capital and center of Japan’s classical court culture”
Modern English
English
Heian-kyō
“The historical name of the city later known as Kyoto”