| Date |
Era |
Occurrence |
| Until circa 500 |
Yamato |
The Hata clan move to the Sagano district and conduct successful flood control
of the Katsura Rive
A large sluice is built on the Kazuno River |
| 678 |
Founding of the Kamo Shrine (Kamigamo and Shimogamo) |
| 794 |
Heian |
Emperor Kanmu moves the capital to Heian Kyo (Kyoto) |
| 796 |
Kanmu orders the construction of the Touji Temple |
| 805 |
Sakanoue no Tamuramaro establishes the Kiyomizudera Temple |
| 874 |
Daigoji Temple on Mt. Kasatori is established by Priest Rigen Daishi |
| 887 |
Emperor Uda establishes Ninnaji Temple |
| 894 |
The practice of sending emissaries to study in China is abolished on recommendation
from Sugawara-no-Michizane |
| circa 985 |
Women's literature flourishes with "Makura no Soushi" (pillow book)and
"Genji Monogatari" (The tale of Genji)among others |
| circa 1096 |
Samurai rise in distinction |
| 1156 |
Taira-no-Kiyomori, Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and others attack the palace of retired
emperor Sutoku (The Hogen Disturbance) |
| 1159 |
Fujiwara-no-Nobuyori, Minamoto-no-Yoshitomo and others attack the palace of
the retired emperor Go Shirakawa, in the vicinity of Sanjo and Karasuma Streets
(The Heiji Disturbance) |
| 1192 |
Kamakura |
Minamoto no Yoritomo is given the title of Shogun (Great General) |
| 1205 |
Myoueshounin rebuilds Kozanji Temple |
| circa 1212 |
The popular "Heike Monogatari" (The tale of the Heike)is handed down |
| 1221 |
Retired emperor Go Toba commands the overthrow of Shogunal regent, Hojo Yoshitoki.
(The Jokyu Disturbance)
The shogunate establishes the shogunal deputies in Kyoto to maintain authority
in the city |
| 1335 |
Nanbokuchou |
"Presently in the capital night raids, robbery. and fraud are rife" and the
like is written in graffiti on the wall where Nijo Street meets the Kamo River |
| 1336 |
Kyoto is divided into North and South when Ashikaga Takauji installs Emperor
Komyo to the Northern Court, while Emperor Godaigo is exiled and sets up a court
in Yojino to the South |
| 1338 |
Ashikaga Takauji becomes Shogun (Great General) |
| 1339 |
Reconstruction of Saihoji Temple by Muso Soseki
Tenryuji Temple is founded by Ashikaga Takauji |
| 1378 |
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu constructs the Muromachi Palace "Hana no Gosho"
** At this time the Kitayama culture prospers |
| 1397 |
Muromachi |
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu founds Kitayamadai, which later becomes Kinkakuji Temple |
| 1404 |
A messenger from Ming in China brings correspondence to Ashikaga Yoshimitsu,
addressing him as the ruler of Japan
**At this time, Noh flourishes under Kanami and his son Zeami Indian Ink Painting,
Tea Ceremony, Tachibana, Sarugaku and other arts become popular |
| 1450 |
Hosokawa Katsumoto founds Ryouanji Temple |
| 1467 |
Commencement of the Onin revolt (continues until 1477)
**At this time, the culture of Higashiyama prospers |
| 1482 |
Ashikaga Yoshimasa begins the construction of Higashiyama Mountain Villa (Ginkakuji
Temple)
**Painting is begun of the Rakuchu Rakugaizu Folding Screen |
| 1500 |
Resurrection of the Gion Festival by the people of Kyoto |
| 1550 |
Christian Missionary St. Francis Xavier comes to Kyoto |
| 1568 |
Oda Nobunaga arrives in Kyoto to lend military support to Ashikaga Yoshiaki.
Takes up position at Toji Temple |
| 1573 |
Oda Nobunaga overthrows Ashikaga Yoshiaki and brings an end to the Muromachi
Shogunate |
| 1582 |
Adzuchi
/ Momoyama |
Oda Nobunaga is assassinated by Akechi Mitsuhide(Honnoji Temple Incident)
**At this time, a series of land surveys is begun |
| 1585 |
Toyotomi Hideyoshi is appointed as chief advisor to the Emperor
**At this time, the culture of Monoyama prospers |
| 1587 |
Construction of Jurakudai Palace |
| 1591 |
Hideyoshi Toyotomi moved Honganji Temple from Osaka to its present location,
Nishihonganji Temple.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi remodeled Kyoto, building castle walls and creating a town
of temples, Teramachi. |
| 1594 |
Construction of Fushimi Castle |
| 1596 |
The Great Keicho Earthquake causes extensive damage to Kyoto |
| 1600 |
Battle of Sekigahara. Japan is brought under one rule by Tokugawa Ieyasu |
| 1603 |
Edo |
Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes Shogun (Great General)of Japan and constructs Nijo
Castle
Izumono Okuni launches Kabuki Dance at Kitano Shrine |
| 1611 |
Suminokura Ryoi commences trenching of the Takase River |
| circa 1615 |
Kyoyaki ceramics is established in the Higashiyama district |
| 1788 |
Most of the city of Kyoto was destroyed by the Great Fire of Tenmei. |
| 1864 |
The Choshu feudal clan fought and lost against the armies
of the various Aizu, Kuwana and Satsuma clans.(The Hamaguri-Gomon Incident)
Two thirds of Kyoto was reduced to ashes in the fires (“Dondon-yake”)
which resulted from these battles. |
| 1867 |
Assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro in Omiya Tokugawa Yoshinobu
at Nijo Castle restores formal political power to the Emperor (Taisei Houkan) |
| 1868 |
Meiji |
Shogunate forces are defeated by the army of the new Imperial Government (The
Battle of Toba-Fushimi)Administration of the Kyoto region is transferred to Kyoto
Prefecture |
Here : Toppage > Kyoto as Historical city > Chronology of Kyoto
