A high
gate that is often referred to as a two-storied gate, but in fact does not
have two stories. Generally, it is an 8-leffed gate, *hakkyakumon
八脚門. The Roumon at Hannyaji 般若寺 (c. 1264) in Nara, is a 4-legged gate with
a single entrance the width of the gate, The roumon has only one
main roof over the whole gate in contrast to a true 2-storied gate that
has a flanking roof that surrounds the whole sturcture above the pillars
*hashira 柱, and bracket
complexes, *tokyou
斗きょう, of the first story. The roumon has no usable space inthe upper
area. Instead of a flanking roof, it has a very shallow-balcony with a balustrade
that skirts the entire gate above the secondally pillars which are capped
by bracket conplexes, *koshigumi
腰組. These support both the balcony, the short posts and other upper structureal
elements which carry the weight of the roof. Roumon usually have
a hip-and-gable roof *irimoya
yane 入母屋屋根, covered with tile, *hongawarabuki
本瓦葺, shingles *kokerabuki
柿葺, or cypress bark *hiwadabuki
桧皮葺. The brcket complexes may be in the wayou style *wayou
和様, or Zen style, *zenshuuyou
禅宗様. The upper area may have two or three vertical muntins set in window
frames, *renjimado 連子窓,
or have window set in the center bay. The side bays may be covered with
white plaster. There is great variety of structural detail in roumon
gates.
Example: Oono Jjinja Roumon 大神社楼門 (early Kamakura period)
in Shiga prefecture. It is an 8-legged gate, Iwakisan Jinja Roumon
岩木山神社楼門 (1628) in Aomori prefecture. 5 x 3 bays and has 3-entances; Toudaji *Chuumon 東大寺中門 (1711-1716) is 5 bays wide with three doors, a hip-and-gable
roof * irimoya-zukuri 入母屋造
covered with tile, hongawarabuki 本瓦葺. |
