The is one of two types of two-storied gate used in Japan (the other one being 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 ...

'', see photo in the gallery below). Even though it was originally developed by

Buddhist architecture Buddhist religious architecture developed in the Indian subcontinent. Three types of structures are associated with the religious architecture of early Buddhism: monasteries ( viharas), places to venerate relics ( stupas), and shrines or prayer ...

, it is now used at both

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. Its otherwise normal upper story is inaccessible and therefore offers no usable space. It is in this respect similar to the ''

tahōtō A is a form of Japanese pagoda found primarily at Esoteric Shingon and Tendai school Buddhist temples. It is unique among pagodas because it has an even number of stories (two). (The second story has a balustrade and seems habitable, but ...

'' (a two-storied pagoda) and the multi-storied pagoda, neither of which offers, in spite of appearances, usable space beyond the first story. In the past, the name also used to be sometimes applied to double-roof gates. This extremely common single-roof gate was developed from the double-roofed ''nijūmon'', replacing the flanking roof above the first floor with a very shallow balcony with a

balustrade A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its con ...

that skirts the entire upper story. Therefore, while the ''nijūmon'' has a series of brackets ('' tokyō'') supporting the roof's

eaves The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a building. The eaves form an overhang to throw water clear of the walls and may be highly decorated as part of an architectural styl ...

both at the first and at the second story, in the ''rōmon'' at the first floor these brackets just support the balcony, and have a different structure. The ''tokyō'' are usually three-stepped ( ''mitesaki''), but at the first floor they don't have tail rafters.For details, see the article Tokyō ''Rōmon'' structure can vary greatly in its details. The upper area behind the balustrade for example can have

muntin A muntin (US), muntin bar, glazing bar (UK), or sash bar is a strip of wood or metal separating and holding panes of glass in a window. Muntins can be found in doors, windows, and furniture, typically in Western styles of architecture. Muntins ...

ed windows or a single window in the center bay. Side bays can be covered with white plaster. ''Rōmon'' usually, but not always, have a hip-and-gable (''

irimoya The East Asian hip-and-gable roof (''Xiēshān'' (歇山) in Chinese, ''Irimoya'' (入母屋) in Japanese, and ''Paljakjibung'' (팔작지붕) in Korean) also known as 'resting hill roof', consists of a hip roof that slopes down on all four side ...

'') roof. Dimensions go from

Tōdai-ji is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. Though it was originally founded in the year 738 CE, Tōdai-ji was not opened until the year ...

's 5 bays to the more common 3-bays, down to even one bay.

Gallery

File:Udo Jingu Roumon.jpg, A ''rōmon''. Note the single roof. File:San-mon gate in Zenkoji temple at Nagano city Japan.jpg, A ''nijūmon''. Note the double roof.

References

Bibliography

* Iwanami Nihonshi Jiten (岩波日本史辞典), CD-Rom Version. Iwanami Shoten, 1999-2001 (in Japanese) * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Romon Gates in Japan Japanese architectural features Japanese Buddhist architecture Shinto architecture

Gallery

See also

References

Bibliography