byoumon　廟門
KEY WORD :　architecture / gates
　
Also called reibyoumon 霊廟門. An entrance gate to a mausoleum. It can be an elaborate gate in two-storied or simulated two-storied style *roumon 楼門, building, or the front and back of the gate can be of undulating gable style gate *karamon 唐門; or it can be a rare type of karamon with undulating gables found on the front, back, and both sides of the gate. The earliest byoumon was built in 1599 as an entrance to the mausoleum known as the Toyokunibyou 豊国廟, enshrining the remains of Toyotomi Hideyoshi 豊臣秀吉 (1536-98). This was a roumon type gate. The early 17c Tokugawa 徳川 mausoleum at Nikkou 日光, Tochigi prefecture, has several byoumon: a front gate of stone dedicated to *Niou 仁王; the *Youmeimon 陽明門 enshrining statues of Zuijin 随身; and a karamon in front of the shrine surrounded by an openwork fence. All of these gates are eight-legged *hakkyakumon 八脚門, elaborately embellished with brilliant lacquer, ornate relief sculpture, and exquisite metalwork.
　
Rinnouji Taiyuuin Nitenmon 輪王寺大猷院二天門 (Tochigi)
Rinnouji Taiyuuin Nitenmon 輪王寺大猷院二天門 (Tochigi)

　
REFERENCES:
*koukamon 皇嘉門
EXTERNAL LINKS: 
　　
NOTES: 
　

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission.
掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。