kankaimon　歓会門

KEY WORD :　architecture / gates

The front gate of Shurijou 首里城 in Okinawa prefecture. It was burned down during World War 2 and rebuilt in 1974. It is an arched gate with double swinging doors, constructed within the castle's stoneblock wall. A 3×2 bay lookout turret is built on top of the gate. The turret has a hip-and-gable roof *irimoya yane 入母屋屋根, covered with pantile *sangawarabuki 桟瓦葺, and rests on four stout circular transverse beams *hari 梁, that extend beyond the stone blocks at the front and back of the gate. The corner posts and posts set at the front and rear openings are supported by transverse beams. Ties *nuki 貫, inserted into the corners and the door posts, are less than a fourth of the distance between the flooring and the head penetrating ties *kashiranuki 頭貫. Two ties beams penetrate the corner posts. Boards set vertically enclose the turret. The rafters *taruki 垂木, rest on the penetrating ties. This style of gate is unique to Okinawa.

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