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| soumon 総門 | ||||||
| KEY WORD : architecture / gates | ||||||
 1 The 
      main entrance gate for many Zen 禅 sect temples. They are large, single-storied, 8-legged or 4-legged gates 
      of various styles. They are located in front of a high gate called *sanmon 
      三門. See *butsumon 
      仏門; *sangedatsumon 
      三解脱門. ![]() Zuiganji Soumon 瑞巌寺総門 (Miyagi)  
      
      2 A generic name for the large outermost gate that serves as the formal entrance to an aristocratic dwelling or temple precinct. HEIKE MONOGATARI, 平家物語 (The Tale of Heike; completed between 1219-1233), refers to a Sanjou omote-no-soumon 三条表の総門 which translates as "the main gate in front of the Sanjou mansion".  | 
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