| A
type of gate, lit. Korean gate. Also formerly called *kabukimon
冠木門. Used for many temple gates, in front of castles, and in daimyou 大名
residences. The gate has a tiled, gabled roof *kirizuma
yane 切妻屋根 set on two main squared pillars, and two lower and smaller roofs
set at right angles, built on side pillars *hikaebashira
控柱 inside. The small gabled roofs protect the side pillars and the door *tobira
扉 from the weather. The kouraimon serves as a small outer castle gate,
usually located at the front of a castle, on the castle-side of a bridge across
the moat. The kouraimon, the square courtyard *masugata
桝形 inside it, and the larger inner gate *yaguramon
櫓門 together comprised the masugatamon 桝形門 gate complex, which first appeared
around 1600. Examples can be seen at Himejijou 姫路城, Nagoyajou 名古屋城, and Kanazawajou
金沢城, and Edojou 江戸城 *Shimizumon 清水門.
The mane is derived from an old name for Korea, probably because the triple roof
resembled Korean roofs. |
