Palace of Time

Analyzing the ongoing reconstruction of monumental buildings from the long-lost imperial palace in Nara, this article argues that the symbolic significance of the historic site finds expression in three temporal aspects: past, present, and future. Approaching historical reconstruction as symbolic stabilization of national time and spatial order, the article analyzes claimed interconnections between material structures and abstract qualities under all three temporal horizons. Arguing that the site’s symbolic importance brings together diverse stakeholder interests, this article adds new perspectives to discussions of reconstructed cultural heritage by investigating a Japanese case of longue-durée heritage-making involving alternative sources of historical authenticity.