![NikkoToshoguOmotemon5230](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/NikkoToshoguOmotemon5230.jpg)
is a generic Japanese term for
gate
A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat" meaning road or path; But other terms include ''yett and port''. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall ...
often used, either alone or as a suffix, in referring to the many gates used by
Buddhist temples
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
,
Shinto shrines
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
and traditional-style buildings and castles.
Significance
Unlike gates of secular buildings, most temple and shrine gates are purely symbolic elements of
liminality
In anthropology, liminality () is the quality of ambiguity or disorientation that occurs in the middle stage of a rite of passage, when participants no longer hold their pre-ritual status but have not yet begun the transition to the status they w ...
, as they cannot be completely closed and just mark the transition between the mundane and the sacred. In many cases, for example that of the ''
sanmon
A , also called , is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other de ...
'', a temple gate has purifying, cleansing properties.
Description
Gate size is measured in ''
ken
Ken or KEN may refer to:
Entertainment
* ''Ken'' (album), a 2017 album by Canadian indie rock band Destroyer.
* ''Ken'' (film), 1964 Japanese film.
* ''Ken'' (magazine), a large-format political magazine.
* Ken Masters, a main character in ...
'', where a ''ken'' is the interval between two pillars of a traditional-style building. A temple's ''
rōmon
The is one of two types of two-storied gate used in Japan (the other one being the ''nijūmon'', see photo in the gallery below). Even though it was originally developed by Buddhist architecture, it is now used at both Buddhist temples and Shin ...
'' for example can have dimensions from a maximum of 5x2 ''ken'' to a more common 3x2 ''ken'', down to even one ''ken''. The word is usually translated in English as "bay" and is better understood as an indication of proportions than as a unit of measurement.
Like the temples they belong to, gates can be in the ''
wayō
is a Buddhist architectural style developed in Japan before the Kamakura period (1185-1333), and is one of the important Buddhist architectural styles in Japan along with ''Daibutsuyō'' and the '' Zenshūyō'', which were developed based on ...
'', ''
daibutsuyō
is a Japanese religious architectural style which emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. Together with ''Wayō'' and ''Zenshūyō'', it is one of the three most significant styles developed by Japanese Buddhism on the basis of Chinese mo ...
'', ''
zen'yō'' or ''
setchūyō
is an architectural style born in Japan during the Muromachi period from the fusion of elements from three different antecedent styles: ''wayō'', ''daibutsuyō'', and ''zenshūyō''. It is exemplified by the Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism), main ...
'' style.
They can be named after:
* Their location, as the or of the or the .
* The deity they house, as the ''
Niōmon
is the Japanese name of a Buddhist temple gate guarded by two wooden warriors called Niō (lit. Two Kings). The gate is called Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将) in China and Geumgangmun (금강문) in Korea. The two statues are inside the two pos ...
'' (lit. "Niō gate", see below), a gate enshrining two gods called
Niō
are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajra ...
in its outer bays.
* Their structure or shape, as the ''
nijūmon
is one of two types of two-story gate presently used in Japan (the other one being the ''rōmon'', see photo in the gallery below), and can be found at most Japanese Buddhist temples. This gate is distinguishable from its relative by the roof ...
'' (lit. "two-story gate", see below) and the ''rōmon'' (lit. tower gate).
* Their function, as the ''
sanmon
A , also called , is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other de ...
'' (see below), which is the most important gate of a
Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
or
Jōdo temple.
Not all such terms are mutually exclusive and the same gate may be called with different names according to the situation. For example, a ''Niōmon'' can also be correctly called a ''nijūmon'' if it has two stories.
Variations
Very different structurally from the others is the ''
torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.
The presence of a ''torii'' at the entrance is usually the simplest ...
mon'' (normally called simply ''torii''), a two-legged gate in stone or wood regularly associated with Shinto, but common also within Japanese Buddhist temples.
As prominent a temple as
Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
's
Shitennō-ji
Shitennō-ji ( ja, 四天王寺, ''Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings'') is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan. It is also known as Arahaka-ji, Nanba-ji, or Mitsu-ji. The temple is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially-a ...
, founded in 593 by
Shōtoku Taishi Shōtoku may refer to:
* Prince Shōtoku (574-622), a politician of the Asuka period
* Empress Kōken, or Empress Shōtoku (718-770), the 48th imperial ruler of Japan
* Shōtoku (era)
was a after ''Hōei'' and before '' Kyōhō.'' This period ...
and the oldest state-built Buddhist temple in the country, has a ''torii'' straddling one of its entrances.
The origins of the ''torii'' are unknown; although several theories on the subject exist, none has gained universal acceptance.
Because the use of symbolic gates is widespread in Asia—such structures can be found for example in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
,
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
,
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
, and within
Nicobarese and
Shompen
The Shompen or Shom Pen are the indigenous people of the interior of Great Nicobar Island, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Shompen are a designated Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Tribe.
...
villages—historians believe it may be an imported tradition. It most often symbolically marks the entrance of a Shinto shrine. For this reason, it is never closed.
Common types
* – so called because of its eight secondary pillars, which support four main pillars standing under the gate's ridge. It therefore really has twelve pillars altogether.
* – A gate in a wall consisting in just two square posts.
* – A gate in a wall formed by two square posts and a horizontal beam.
* – A gate characterized by a ''
karahafu
is a type of curved gable found in Japanese architecture. It is used on Japanese castles, Buddhist temples, and Shinto shrines. Roofing materials such as tile and bark may be used as coverings. The face beneath the gable may be flush with the w ...
'', an undulating
bargeboard
Bargeboard (probably from Medieval Latin ''bargus'', or ''barcus'', a scaffold, and not from the now obsolete synonym "vergeboard") or rake fascia is a board fastened to each projecting gable of a roof to give it strength and protection, and to ...
peculiar to Japan.
''Karamon'' are used at
Japanese castle
are fortresses constructed primarily of wood and stone. They evolved from the wooden stockades of earlier centuries, and came into their best-known form in the 16th century. Castles in Japan were built to guard important or strategic sites, such ...
s,
Buddhist temples
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
and
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
s.
* – Used at castles, temples and ''daimyō'' residences, it consists of a tiled, gabled roof on two pillars, plus two smaller roofs over the on the rear of the gate.
* . A defensive structure consisting in a courtyard along the wall of a castle with two gates set at a square angle, one giving access to the castle and one facing the outside. The external gate is typically a ''kōraimon'', the internal one a ''yaguramon''. The Sakuradamon at
Tokyo's Imperial Palace is such a gate.
* – A gate formed by two pillars sustaining a gabled roof. Similar to a ''kōraimon'', but lacking the roofed secondary pillars.
* lit. ''nagaya'' gate – A ''
nagaya
Nagaya ( ') (684 – 20 March 729) was a politician of the Nara period and an imperial prince of Japan, a son of Prince Takechi (grandson of Emperor Tenmu).
His father was Prince Takechi and his mother Princess Minabe (a daughter of Emperor T ...
'', literally a long house, was a row house where low status samurai used to live, and the ''nagayamon'' was a gate that allowed traffic from one side of the structure to the other.
*''
Nijūmon
is one of two types of two-story gate presently used in Japan (the other one being the ''rōmon'', see photo in the gallery below), and can be found at most Japanese Buddhist temples. This gate is distinguishable from its relative by the roof ...
'' – A two-storied gate with a pent roof between the two stories. Distinguishable from the similar ''rōmon'' for having a pent roof between stories.
*''
Niōmon
is the Japanese name of a Buddhist temple gate guarded by two wooden warriors called Niō (lit. Two Kings). The gate is called Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将) in China and Geumgangmun (금강문) in Korea. The two statues are inside the two pos ...
'' – A gate enshrining in its two outer
bays the statues of two warden gods, the
Niō
are two wrathful and muscular guardians of the Buddha standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in East Asian Buddhism in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are dharmapala manifestations of the bodhisattva Vajra ...
.
*''
Rōmon
The is one of two types of two-storied gate used in Japan (the other one being the ''nijūmon'', see photo in the gallery below). Even though it was originally developed by Buddhist architecture, it is now used at both Buddhist temples and Shin ...
'' – A two-storied, single roofed gate where the second story is inaccessible and offers no usable room. Distinguishable from the similar ''nijūmon'' for not having a pent roof between stories.
*''
Sanmon
A , also called , is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other de ...
'' – The most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple. Also used by other schools, particularly the Jōdo. Its importance notwithstanding, the ''sanmon'' is not the first gate of the temple, and in fact it usually stands between the ''sōmon'' (outer gate) and the ''
butsuden
Main hall is the building within a Japanese Buddhist temple compound ('' garan'') which enshrines the main object of veneration.Kōjien Japanese dictionary Because the various denominations deliberately use different terms, this single English ...
'' (lit. "Hall of Buddha", i.e. the main hall).
*''
Sōmon'' – the gate at the entrance of a temple.
[Iwanami Japanese dictionary, 6th Edition (2008), DVD version] It often precedes the bigger and more important ''
sanmon
A , also called , is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other de ...
''.
*''
Torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.
The presence of a ''torii'' at the entrance is usually the simplest ...
'' – This distinctive symbolic gate is usually associated with Shinto shrines, however it is common at Buddhist temples too, as most have at least one.
* – Gates opened in a castle wall. Because they were used to connect surfaces at different levels, they looked as if they were buried in the ground.
* – A gate with a ''
yagura Yagura may refer to:
* Yagura castle
* Yagura opening
* Yagura (tombs)
* Yagura (tower)
is the Japanese word for "tower", "turret", "keep", or "scaffold". The word is most often seen in reference to structures in Japanese castle compounds bu ...
'' on top.
* – A gate having no pillars under the ridge of its gabled gate, and supported by four pillars at its corners.
* – so called because of its four secondary pillars which support two main pillars standing under the gate's ridge. It therefore really has six pillars.
Photo gallery
File:Horyu-ji02s3200.jpg, ''Hakkyakumon''
File:Heijuumon.jpg, ''Heijūmon''
File:Kara-mon Gate of Nishi Hongwanji.JPG, ''Karamon''
File:Sasaymajo kabukimon.jpg, ''Kabukimon''
File:SakuradaGate2.jpg, ''Kōraimon'', outside
File:Matsumoto Castle09n4592.jpg, ''Kōraimon'', inside
File:Wakayama Yosuien19n4272.jpg, ''Munamon''
File:Nagayamon of Oishi House Ako01n3200.jpg, ''Nagayamon''
File:Hagiwaraji 02.JPG, ''Niōmon''
File:Tofukuji-Sanmon-M9589.jpg, Tōfuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. Tōfuku-ji takes its name from two temples in Nara, Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji.Japan ReferenceTōfuku-ji/ref> It is one of the Kyoto ''Gozan'' or "five great Zen temples of Kyoto". Its ...
's ''sanmon'' is a ''nijūmon''
File:Udo Jingu Roumon.jpg, ''Rōmon''. Note the absence of stairs to the second story.
File:Hannyaji Romon01.cropped.jpg, This ''shikyakumon'' is also a ''rōmon''. Note the absence of stairs to the second story.
File:Tatsuno castle03s1960.jpg, An ''uzumimon''
File:Toyooka City Library04st3200.jpg, ''Yakuimon''
File:KawanoeJo-Fukugen-YaguraMon.jpg, ''Yaguramon''
File:Entrance to Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine.jpg, A red ''torii'' at the entrance of a Shinto shrine
References
External links
*
{{Shinto shrine
Gates in Japan
Japanese architectural features
Japanese Buddhist architecture
Shinto architecture