京都
Kyoto
京都 · きょうと
Prefecture
Kinki
Kanji Literal Meaning
"Capital City"
True Etymology
The name literally means 'capital city' (京 = capital, 都 = metropolis/city). When Emperor Kanmu relocated the imperial court to Heiankyō in 794 CE, the city became the capital. The name 'Kyoto' emerged as a common noun for the capital before becoming the city's proper name, eventually designating the entire prefecture.
Alternative Theory
The original name 'Heiankyō' (平安京, capital of peace and tranquility) was the formal name. 'Kyoto,' meaning simply 'the capital,' was the everyday name. When Edo was renamed Tokyo (Eastern Capital) in 1868, Kyoto implicitly became the Western Capital (Saikyō, 西京).
Key Facts
| Capital | Kyoto City |
|---|---|
| Region | Kinki |
| Reading | きょうと |
| Pre-Meiji Domains | Toba Domain, Tanba-Kameoka Domain, Fushimi Domain |
| Domain Lords | Inaba clan (稲葉氏), Various court nobles |
| Established | 1871-present |