Toin Karamon Gate ｜ Cultural Properties ｜ Miidera Temple Cultural Property Museum ｜ The Head Temple of the Tendaijimon Buddhist Sect Miidera Temple

The Karamon Gate is the middle gate of the Toin, standing in front of Daishido Hall. It was built at the same time as the Hall, during the renovations that took place in the Keicho era (1596－1615), and is topped with cypress bark roofing.
The Karamon Gate is a mukaikaramon gate with a karahafu bargeboard on its front. The main pillars are widely chamfered prism pillars, and sankarato paneled wooden doors are suspended from doors that open on both sides. The upper sections of the sankarato paneled wooden doors are made of renji latticework, while the lower sections are constructed from tasukizan strips of wood that form a X-shaped pattern. The shape of the central itakaerumata plank, struts, and other unique aspects of the design are characteristic of the Momoyama period (1573–1600).
The shishiguchi lion face tiles on the gate were replaced during repairs in 1674. These tiles feature the inscription of Nishimura Hanbe Masateru, the man who invented sangawara roof tiles.

“cypress bark roofing”

A roof made by the method where cypress bark is fixed by bamboo nails.

“karahafu”

A unique style of roof with a gable that flows from the top center with gentle curves on each side.

“mukaikaramon”

A gate with karahafu bargeboard on the front.

“widely chamfered prism pillars”

Chamfering (mentori) is to cut away right-angled edges of a prism pillar. Kirimen, the most common form, is created at a 45° angle between two adjoining right-angled faces on the four corners of a prism. Based on the width of a pillar, a form with a large chamfered width is called omentori, with a short chamfered width is called itomen (light-chamfering) and with right-angled edges cut slightly inward is called sumiiri.

“sankarato”

A paneled door with thin panels and renji latticework set into small frames in an outer door frame.

“renji”

Wooden framework where kumiko (a delicate thin wooden work) are arranged either vertically or horizontally.

“tasukizan”

“itakaerumata”

It is a part, both sides of which widen towards the bottom with curves, like a frog opening its legs (kaeru means a frog, and mata means crotch) and is located between two connecting beams. Otherwise, its name reportedly derives from karimata, the shape of the arrowhead, the edge of which splits into two.

“Momoyama period”

One of the classifications of periods. Approximately 20 years of the period while Toyotomi Hideyoshi took power in the late 16th century. For art history, between the Azuchi-Momoyama period and the early Edo period is important as a transition period between medieval Japan and early modern times. In particular, constructions of magnificent castles, palaces, temples, and shrines, as well as decorative paintings on paper sliding doors and screens inside those buildings were developed. Also, the development of genre-paintings that show ordinary life and craft technology such as pottery, lacquer work, dyeing and weaving is remarkable.

“shishiguchi”

Similar to onigawara ridge-end tiles (ridge-end tiles with a face of demon), roof tiles are located at both ends of the building to decorate gables. Although they are called shishiguchi (shishi means a lion in Japanese), they do not have a drawing of a lion’s face. The tiles consist of kyonomaki, scroll-like tiles, and hire, tiles stretching to both sides that are located in the lower part.

“sangawara”

A type of roofing with only one type of tiles, the cross-section of which is corrugated, are used. The method was invented in the Edo period (1603–1868). The tiles used to be called “simple” tiles, as they were more economical, compared to the tiles used for formal-tile roofing. Nowadays, traditional townhouses and residential buildings have this type of roofing.

Cultural Property of Japan

Toin Karamon Gate