Saimon　西門

KEY WORD :　architecture / gates

An eight-legged *hakkyakumon 八脚門, 3-bay wide, 1-entrance gate with a gable roof *kirizuma yane 切妻屋根, constructed at Kiyomizudera 清水寺 (1607) in Kyoto. A unique feature is the undulating bargeboard *karahafu 唐破風 or nokikarahafu 軒唐破風, placed along the rear eave that faces the 3-storied pagoda, Sanjuu-no-tou 三重塔. The roofing is made of cypress bark *hiwadabuki 桧皮葺. A 1-bay wide step canopy *kouhai 向拝, extends forward from the center bay which is also the passageway through the gate. Vertical lath fencing, kongousaku 金鋼柵, on the lower part and diamond lattice *hishigoushi 菱格子, fills the upper part to protect the enshrined statues of *Jikokuten 持国天 and *Bishamonten 毘沙門天 which are set on 1-step high platforms. There are no gate doors. Three-on-one bracket complexes are set at right angle to each other, *demitsudo 出三斗, on top of the circular pillars. Frog-leg struts *kaerumata 蟇股, are placed on these pillars to support the purlins. Double rainbow beams and both frog-leg struts and bottle struts *taiheizuka 大瓶束, are used in the gable pediments. Double eaves *futanoki 二軒, with closely spaced rafters *shigedaruki 繁垂木, are employed. The step canopy fly rafters, *hien daruki 飛檐垂木, are considerably extended to create very deep eaves. The ceiling is latticed and coffered *kogumi goutenjou 小組格天井. Traces of carvings and bright colors can be detected on the frog-leg struts and nosings *kibana 木鼻. This gate retains elements of the taste and complexity of style of the Momoyama period (1568-1615) but more conservative style was expected in most buildings, except those constructed for the shogun.

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