The Yotsuashimon Gate is built into the earthen wall surrounding the front entrance of the Toin. line It  aligns with the Kanjodo Hall, the Karamon Gate, and the Daishido Hall to mark out a straight that leads towards the mountainous area on the western side of the temple.
The Yotsuashimon Gate was constructed in 1624. It was initially built in the munakado roofed-gate style, but was later changed to a yotsuashimon (four-legged) style, and then hikaebashira bracing struts were also added. Together with the tandai lanterns placed on the stone-paved road in front of the temple, the gate creates a saintly atmosphere befitting the entrance to a notable holy site.

“earthen wall”

“Yotsuashimon Gate”

With a main post at the center, four shore posts are located in front and the back of the gate. It is called yotsuashimon Gate, as yotsuashi means four legs (posts) and the gate has four shore posts. This type of gates is commonly used as a front gate of the temple. Normally cylindrical main posts and slightly thinner prism shore posts are used with a gable roof. A gate with four shore posts on each side, in total eight posts, is called a hakkyakumon gate (gate with eight legs/posts).

“munakado”

It is also called munekado, munamon and munemon. Unlike Yotsuahimon Gate, it has only two main posts without front and rear shore posts.

“hikaebashira”

A post to support fences. A support.

“tandai”

The supreme position at the Ryugi, the oral examination that tests a monk’s understanding of Buddhist doctrine and scriptures. At the Kogaku Ryugi in the Tendai sect, the tandai selects a topic, and a rissha, an examinee, and a monja, an examiner, have a question-and-answer session. The tandai supervises the discussion and decides whether the examinee has passed or not.

−

1st year of the Kanei Era (1624)