The Osaka Museum of History is located in the Chuo-ku district of Osaka City, where we can see exhibits that are consistent with the real-size as well as precious data. From the ancient palace Namba Palace, the "Water Capital" of the Middle Ages and the modern era, to the urban style of the industrial and commercial city "O Osaka" from the end of Taisho to the pre-World War II period, it covers all eras.
Osaka was once the capital of Japan
Osaka is the largest city in Western Japan and has the third largest population after Tokyo and Yokohama. After entering the Sengoku period, Osaka became the stage of several major historical events, such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi's construction of Osaka Castle, the "Battle of Osaka" (the Edo shogunate's war against the Toyotomi family between 1614 and 1615), and so on.
The Osaka Castle Tower, which stands at the northern end of the Kamimachi Terrace, is photographed at the Osaka Museum of History
What is less well known, however, is that Osaka was the ancient capital of Japan before Heian Kyo (the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868, in the area of present-day central Kyoto).
Osaka was called "Naniwa" in ancient times, and the Kanji characters are written as "Namba", "Wave Speed", "Wave Flower" and so on. This indicates that the site was once a water fortress. To the north is the Yodogawa River, where the waters of Lake Biwa flow through Kyoto, and to the south is the kawaguchi area of the Yamato River, which originates in the Nara Basin. The kawaguchi districts of the Yodogawa and Yamato rivers sandwich the Kamimachi Terrace (a hilly area that extends south from Osaka Castle) in the middle. Nambazu on the coast of Osaka Bay was the most important port in ancient Japan, and it is said that sui and tang envoys set sail from here.
NambaGu Ruins Park, located on the south side of Osaka Castle, hogasaka 1-chome, is centered on the altar base of the restored Ōgoku-den Temple
The largest kofun in the Osaka Prefecture's only World Heritage Site, the "Hundred Tongue Birds and Koichi Kofun Group", is the Mausoleum of Emperor Hitoku (Oyama Kofun, located in the Boundary Ward of Sakai City), and the second largest kofun is the mausoleum of his father, Emperor Injin (Yuda Mimitayama Kofun, located in Hazuno City). Legend has it that the two emperors built the palace in Osaka.
For about 150 years from the Asuka period to the Nara period, the ancient palace Namba Shrine was built in the southwest of present-day Osaka Castle. In 645 (the first year of Daiwa), the Imperial Palace was completed, and Namba Palace became the stage for the "Daiwa Revolution". Later, Osaka was designated as the "vice capital" and once again functioned as a capital city.
In 794 (the 13th year of the Ennari calendar), Heian Kyo was completed, and Kyoto officially became the capital of Japan, and Namba Palace completed its mission. Due to the abandonment of the ruins of Namba Palace, its exact location was not known for a long time. Only 60 years ago, in 1961 (Showa 36), archaeological excavations finally confirmed the existence of Namba Palace. For these reasons, Osaka's impression of being an "ancient capital" is weak, but the city's long history is not inferior to that of Kyoto and Nara.
The Osaka Museum of History and NHK Osaka Television (left) are connected. The thatched-roof building in front is the restored Hokonsaka ruins warehouse
Today, the NambaGu Shrine Ruins and Homagosaka Ruins, centered on nambagu Ruins Park, have been designated as national historical and cultural monuments. The Osaka Museum of History was built at the corner of the site. From the Namba-miya period to the Edo period, which was the center of commerce and culture, from the late Taisho period, which is known as the "First Industrial and Commercial City of the East" to before World War II, visitors can review the history of Osaka through elaborately crafted scene models in this popular museum.
The ruins of Namba Palace were not seen until after World War II
After entering the Osaka Museum of History, take the elevator to the 10th floor in the lobby on the first floor, and then take the escalator from top to bottom to trace the historical trajectory of Osaka from ancient times to the present. There are two types of visiting routes: the "Circumference Route" for a detailed tour, and the "Key Route" for learning about the history of Osaka in one hour, so that visitors can include the Osaka Museum of History in their visit plan in Osaka Castle.
The 10th floor displays the history of the Namba Palace era, where visitors can travel to the late Namba Palace Taiji Hall in 744 (16 years of the balance). In this huge living room, there are vermilion-lacquered columns of the same size as the real-life, the roof is exquisitely shaped with bucket arches, and the wax figures of officials stand here to welcome visitors from all directions. Glass windows are installed under the northeastern wall, where you can overlook namba-miya Ruins Park, where the historical Ōgoku-den is located.
The Osaka Museum of History is located in the ruins of Namba Palace, and the ancient ruins are located under the building, which can be visited by appointment on the same day
Today, Namba Palace, the early namba shrine of Emperor Hyotoku, and the late Namba Palace built by Emperor Seiomu are collectively known as Namba Palace. In 645 (the first year of Daehwa), the eldest brother Prince and the nakatomi Destroy the Su I clan, support Emperor Hyotoku, move the capital to Namba Palace, and promote the "Daehwa Revolution".
Ten years later, Emperor Takatoku died, and the capital was moved back to Asuka Castle in Nara. However, Emperor Tenmu established the Futo System (a system in which a country has two or more capitals) and made Namba Palace the capital. By the time of Nara, Emperor Seimu had made Namba Palace the vice capital and rebuilt the burned-out palace. For about a year from 744 onwards, the imperial residence was located in Namba Palace.
The scene from the ceremony held at the Great Pole Hall was restored according to the physical dimensions. The diameter of the cylinder is up to 70 cm
Although ancient texts such as the Nihon Shoki (written in 720) record the historical changes of Namba Palace, the exact location of Namba Palace has long been a mystery due to the burning of the early Namba Palace and the relocation of the later buildings to Nagaoka-kyo. In the Taisho period, several Nara-era artifacts were finally discovered in Hokonsaka, but there were army-related facilities in this area, so archaeological exploration was difficult to progress.
After World War II, Tokutaro Yamagane, a former professor at Osaka City University who had been concerned about the area, and others discovered the owl tail (an ornament at both ends of the roof ridge of important buildings such as ancient palaces) during the pre-investigation stage. In 1954 (Showa 29), archaeological excavations were officially launched. At first, excavations were difficult because the site was central, and Yamane's hypothesis was questioned by the academic community. It was not until 1961 that the ruins of the Great Pole Hall were brought to light.
The officials who served at the emperor's side were brightly dressed
In addition to the restored models of namba Palace in the early and late periods, the Osaka Museum of History also exhibits excavated artifacts such as stone tools, tiles, and replicas of iris tails, as well as the exploits of Dr. Yamane, who is now known as the "Schliemann of Japan". Here visitors can feel first-hand the atmosphere of this palace that has been shrouded in mist for about 1,200 years.