Editing Emperor Kanmu (section)

=== Domestic relations ===
Earlier Imperial sponsorship of [[Buddhism]], beginning with [[Prince Shōtoku]] (574–622), had led to a general politicization of the clergy, along with an increase in intrigue and corruption. In 784 Kammu shifted his capital from [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] to [[Nagaoka-kyō]] in a move that was said to be designed to encumber the powerful Nara Buddhist establishments out of state politics—while the capital moved, the major Buddhist temples, and their officials, stayed put.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Adolphson |first=Mikael S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kjT8_78YAwAC&pg=PA27 |title=The Gates of Power: Monks, Courtiers, and Warriors in Premodern Japan |date=2000-07-01 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-2334-4 |pages=27 |language=en}}</ref> Indeed, there was a steady stream of edicts issued from 771 right through the period of Kūkai's studies which, for instance, sought to limit the number of Buddhist priests, and the building of temples. However, the move was to prove disastrous and was followed by a series of natural disasters including the flooding of half the city. In 785 the principal architect of the new capital, and royal favourite, [[Fujiwara no Tanetsugu]], was assassinated.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

Meanwhile, Kammu's armies were pushing back the boundaries of his empire. This led to an uprising, and in 789 a substantial defeat for Kammu's troops. Also in 789 there was a severe drought and famine—the streets of the capital were clogged with the sick, and people avoiding being [[Conscription|draft]]ed into the military, or into forced labour. Many disguised themselves as Buddhist priests for the same reason. Consequently, in 792 Kammu abolished national conscription, replacing it with a system wherein each province formed a militia from the local gentry, however this system vitiated the authority of the Emperor and led to proliferation of private armies. Then in 794 Kammu suddenly shifted the capital again, this time to Heian-kyō, which is modern day [[Kyoto]]. The new capital was started early the previous year, but the change was abrupt and led to even more confusion amongst the populace.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}} Kammu's rule witnessed the frontiers of Japan expanding into Izawa and Shiba, under the command of a preeminent commander, Tamura Maro.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sansom |first=Sir George Bailey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t2c4t4yw21gC |title=A History of Japan to 1334 |date=1958 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-0523-3 |pages=106 |language=en}}</ref>

Politically Kammu shored up his rule by changing the syllabus of the university. [[Confucius|Confucian]] ideology still provided the ''raison d'être'' for the Imperial government. In 784 Kammu authorised the teaching of a new course based on the ''[[Spring and Autumn Annals]]'' based on two newly imported commentaries: ''Kung-yang'' and ''Ku-liang''. These commentaries used political rhetoric to promote a state in which the Emperor, as "Son of Heaven," should extend his sphere of influence to barbarous lands, thereby gladdening the people. In 798 the two commentaries became required reading at the government university.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

Emperor Kanmu was the first person to conceive the ''[[Shinsen Shōjiroku]]'', a [[Japan|Japanese]] [[Genealogy|genealogical]] record in 799 to properly track the clans' then ambiguous lineages, but it was not able to be completed before his death in 806. The project was later carried over by his sons and was completed during [[Emperor Saga]]'s reign in 814.