A Unique “Sea Capital” in Ancient Naniwa

Reconsidering the Theory of the Naniwa Palace and Capital Sites as a “Sub-Capital”

Abstract

The author, based on the situation of the concentration of remains and artifacts in the south bank of the Okawa River and the area around Shitennoji Temple on the results of recent researches on the Naniwa Palace Site and the presumed Naniwa-kyo Capital area, mentioned that the distribution of remains and artifacts in the former area expanded to the west over time, and that development progressed further north to watersheds of the old Nakatsu River and rivers from the Hokusetsu Mountains such as Mikuni River from results of the excavation. From the viewpoint that the bustle in the Naniwa area after the latter half of the Nara period already shifted from the palace area on the Uemachi Upland to this area, the author examined the estimated location of Naniwa Port Site and the Settsu provincial Capital, referring to related historical documents. The fact that the important ritual rites of Naniwa, such as Yasoshima-matsuri and the Rituals related to dismissal of Saio, which could be traced back to at least the Nara period, survived as rituals of royal authority, although their forms changed, showed that ancient Naniwa always developed with the sea in mind. Based on this understanding, the author questioned the positioning of Naniwa Palace Site and Capital Site as “Sub-Capital”.