Hizen Provincial Capital

The Hizen Provincial Capital site in Saga, Japan, represents the archaeological remains of a Nara to early Heian period provincial capital. Established following the Taika Reform in 645 CE, the site reflects the centralized administrative model influenced by Chinese governance. The ruins include the foundations of administrative buildings, granaries for tax rice storage, and religious structures like provincial temples. The provincial office complex, with a layout resembling larger capitals like Fujiwara-kyō, features a central north-south axis with halls and a distinctive eight-legged south gate. Though many original structures are lost, excavations have uncovered significant artifacts, including sue and haji ware. This site offers insight into Japan's early centralized governance and the socio-political transformations leading to the Heian period's feudal systems.