Dazaifu, Fukuoka
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Dazaifu (太宰府市; -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.
Dazaifu_shrine.jpg
As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 66,669 and the density of 2,251.57 persons per km². The total area is 29.61 km².
The city was officially founded on April 1, 1982, although it has been important historically for around a thousand years.
History
Dazaifu, the imperial office to govern Kyushu was moved fron currendays Fukuoka after 663. Dazaifu hosted foreign embassies from China or Korea and Korokan, Guesthouse for foreign embassies was also settled. From Nara period through Heian and till Kamakura period, Dazaifu was one of military and administrative centers of Japan. In the Heian period Dazaifu was one of exile places of high ranked courtiers. Exiled nobles including Sugawara no Michizane, who was today culted as kami in Dazaifu Tenman-gu.
Dazaifu was attacked sometimes by rebellion. In other times the head of Dazaifu himself made a rebellion.
Since of decline of the authority of Emperors and invasions of Mongol, the political significance of Dazaifu was gradually declined. In Muromachi period the political center of Kyushu was moved to Hakata.
During the medieval periods Dazaifu was a site of Shoni clan which was later expelled by Ouchi clan.
In the Edo period, Dazaifu was a part of Kuroda han till its abolishment in 1873.
External links
- Official website (http://www.city.dazaifu.fukuoka.jp/) in Japanese