Yamashiro Province facts for kids
Yamashiro Province (山城国, Yamashiro no Kuni) was an important old region in Japan. It was located on the island of Honshū, in the area we now know as Kyoto Prefecture. The famous city of Kyoto was right in the heart of Yamashiro Province.
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History of Yamashiro Province
Yamashiro Province has a very long and interesting history. For many centuries, it was the center of power in Japan.
The Capital City
In the year 794, a very important event happened: the capital of Japan was moved to Yamashiro Province. This new capital city was called Heian-kyo, which later became known as Kyoto. Kyoto stayed the main capital of Japan for over 1,000 years! It was the home of the Imperial Court, which was like the royal family and their government.
The capital remained in Yamashiro Province until the 1870s. At that time, the Imperial Court moved to Tokyo, which then became the new capital.
The Ashikaga Shogunate
During a time in Japanese history called the Muromachi period (from 1336 to 1573), Yamashiro Province was also very important for another reason. The main office of the Ashikaga shogunate was located there. The Shogunate was a military government led by a powerful general called the Shogun. The Ashikaga Shoguns ruled Japan for many years from their base in Yamashiro.
Changing to Prefectures
Later, in the Meiji period (which started in 1868), Japan went through many big changes. One of these changes was how the country was organized. The old provinces, like Yamashiro, were changed into new areas called prefectures. This happened in the 1870s. So, Yamashiro Province became part of what is now Kyoto Prefecture.
Important Shrines and Temples
Yamashiro Province was also home to many important religious sites.
Kamo Shrines
The most important Shinto shrines in Yamashiro were the Kamo Shrines. Shinto is the traditional religion of Japan. The Kamo Shrines are actually two separate shrines:
- The Kamigamo Shrine
- The Shimogamo Shrine
These shrines were considered the chief shrines (called ichinomiya) of the province. They are still very important cultural and historical sites today.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Yamashiro para niños
