Shirakawa Kanga ruins

The Shirakawa Kanga ruins in Fukushima, Japan, are the remnants of a significant government administrative complex from the Nara to early Heian periods. The site, designated as a National Historic Site in 1984, includes the Sekiwaku Kanga and Kariyado temple ruins. The complex reflects administrative changes following the Taika reforms and the establishment of the Ritsuryō system in the 7th century CE. The Sekiwaku Kanga site features a rectangular layout with a moat and river, containing warehouses initially built in a stilt pillar style, later reconstructed with foundation stones and tiled roofs. The Kariyado temple, laid out in the Horyuji style, highlights the religious aspect of governance. These sites reveal insights into the administrative and religious structures of ancient Japan, indicating their central role in regional governance and tax collection.