Kyoto
/ˈkjoʊtoʊ/noun
A city in central Japan that served as the imperial capital from 794 until 1868.
Did you know?Kyoto was deliberately laid out in 794 on a grid inspired by Chinese cosmology, with its northern palace aligned to symbolic ideas of cosmic order.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
京
“Capital or elevated city; the character later read kyō in Japanese.”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
都
“Capital city, metropolis, or administrative center.”
8th Century
Japanese
Kyōto
“A Japanese compound meaning “capital metropolis.””
794
Japanese
Heian-kyō
““Capital of peace and tranquility,” the official name of the city established by Emperor Kanmu.”
11th Century
Japanese
Kyōto
“A common name for the imperial capital as Heian-kyō gradually came to be known simply as Kyoto.”
1868
Japanese
Kyōto
“The former imperial capital after the imperial court moved to Edo, renamed Tokyo.”
Modern English
English
Kyoto
“The conventional English form of the Japanese city name.”