Heian-jingu was built in 1895, on the 1,100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital from Nara to Kyoto. The deity enshrined there is Emperor Kanmu, who had been responsible for transferring the capital. Kyoto prospered as the capital for more than 1,000 years until the modern government moved it to Tokyo upon the termination of rule by the samurai class. The transfer of the capital in 1868 caused a decline in the prosperity of Kyoto, but, the people of Kyoto united to revitalize the city and built Heian-jingu. Emperor Komei, the last emperor of the period during which the capital was situated in Kyoto, was enshrined jointly here with Emperor Kanmu in 1940.