Heian Palace: cosa c’è intorno, come arrivare e quando andare · 2026

Formal compounds like Buraku-in fell into neglect as the imported ritsuryo legal framework broke down. Executive power passed to the Fujiwara clan and extralegal bodies such as the Chamberlain's Office. Abandoned buildings developed reputations for harboring ghosts and were shunned after dark. Palace security degraded until only Yomeimon gate retained guards, leaving the dark outer courtyards exposed to thieves and violent crime.

Wooden construction left the entire compound vulnerable to recurring blazes, with arson frequently suspected in the residential Dairi. Rather than rebuilding ruined ceremonial halls like the Daigokuden, the court increasingly relied on private town residences called sato-dairi. These secondary palaces belonged to maternal Fujiwara relatives, who controlled access to the throne while retired emperors managed state affairs from outside.