Résumé en anglais
The city of Kyoto was founded in 794 when Emperor Kanmu decided to build a new capital and leave the city of Nara. This paper traces the history of the founding of Kyoto in relation to the ideal principles of the Chinese city. This model formed for centuries a major cultural reference for the construction of new cities in Japan. The ideal model was closely tied to the laws of nature, the same ones that still involved in the construction of new buildings. Key words: Kyoto, Japan, ideal Chinese model, urban configuration.