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A or is the most important mon of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other denominations too. Most ''sanmon'' are 2- or 3- bay '' nijūmon'' (a type of two-storied gate), but the name by itself does not imply any specific architecture.
Its importance notwithstanding, the ''sanmon'' is not the first gate of the temple, and in fact it usually stands between the '' sōmon'' (outer gate) and the '' butsuden'' (lit. "Hall of Buddha", i.e. the main hall). It used to be connected to a portico-like structure called , which however gradually disappeared during the Zōjō-ji
accessed on May 1, 2009 The fact the gate has entrances but no doors, and cannot therefore be closed, emphasizes its purely symbolic function as a limit between the sacred and the profane. A temple of the second rank will have a two-storied, 3x2-bay, single entrance gate (see photo below). The second story of a first or second rank temple usually contains statues of Shakyamuni or of goddess Kannon, and of the 16 ''Rakan'', and hosts periodical religious ceremonies.Iwanami Nihonshi Jiten The side bays of ''sanmon'' of the first two ranks may also house statues of the Niō, wardens who are in charge of repelling evil. A third rank temple will have a single-storied, 1x2-bay, single entrance gate.
Image:Myotsuji Sanmon 1.jpg, A middle rank, three-bay ''sanmon'' at Myōtsū-ji,
File:Komyoji,-Kamakura gate stairs.jpg, The stairs to the second story
File:Kamakura Komyoji Inside The Sanmon 3.jpg, The second story
File:Kamakura Komyoji Sanmon 2.jpg, The second story, exit to the balcony
File:Kamakura Komyoji Inside-the-sanmon-1.jpg, Sacred images in the main room
Japanese Art Net User System (JAANUS)
online dictionary accessed on May 2, 2009 *''Iwanami Nihonshi Jiten'' (岩波日本史辞典), CD-Rom Version. Iwanami Shoten, 1999-2001. {{Buddhist temples in Japan Gates in Japan Japanese Buddhist architecture Building types Buildings and structures by type Urban studies and planning terminology
A or is the most important mon of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen '' shichidō garan'', the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple.JAANUS It can be often found in temples of other denominations too. Most ''sanmon'' are 2- or 3- bay '' nijūmon'' (a type of two-storied gate), but the name by itself does not imply any specific architecture.
Position, function and structure
Its importance notwithstanding, the ''sanmon'' is not the first gate of the temple, and in fact it usually stands between the '' sōmon'' (outer gate) and the '' butsuden'' (lit. "Hall of Buddha", i.e. the main hall). It used to be connected to a portico-like structure called , which however gradually disappeared during the Muromachi period
The , also known as the , is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate ( or ), which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi ...
, being replaced by the , a small building present on both sides of the gate and containing a stairway to the gate's second story. (Both ''sanrō'' are clearly visible in Tōfuku-ji's photo above.)
The ''sanmon's'' size is an indicator of a Zen temple's status. Structurally, the ''sanmon'' of a first rank temple as Nanzen-ji in Kyoto
Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
is a two-storied, 5x2 bay, three entrance gate (see photo below). Its three gates are called , and and symbolize the three gates to enlightenment, or ''satori
''Satori'' () is a Japanese Buddhist term for " awakening", "comprehension; understanding". The word derives from the Japanese verb '' satoru''.
In the Zen Buddhist tradition, ''satori'' refers to a deep experience of '' kenshō'', "seeing ...
''.Fowler Entering, pilgrims can symbolically free themselves from the three passions of , , and .accessed on May 1, 2009 The fact the gate has entrances but no doors, and cannot therefore be closed, emphasizes its purely symbolic function as a limit between the sacred and the profane. A temple of the second rank will have a two-storied, 3x2-bay, single entrance gate (see photo below). The second story of a first or second rank temple usually contains statues of Shakyamuni or of goddess Kannon, and of the 16 ''Rakan'', and hosts periodical religious ceremonies.Iwanami Nihonshi Jiten The side bays of ''sanmon'' of the first two ranks may also house statues of the Niō, wardens who are in charge of repelling evil. A third rank temple will have a single-storied, 1x2-bay, single entrance gate.
Three ranks
Fukui prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Fukui Prefecture has a population of 737,229 (1 January 2025) and has a geographic area of 4,190 Square kilometre, km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture border ...
Image:Sozenji (Higashiyodogawa, Osaka) sanmon.jpg, A low rank ''sanmon'' at Sozen-ji in Osaka
is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
Second story
Some images of the second story of Kōmyō-ji's ''sanmon'' inKamakura
, officially , is a city of Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. It is located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu. The city has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 people per km2 over the tota ...
, Kanagawa Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...
. It is a high rank Jōdo sect ''sanmon'', the largest of the Kantō region.
Examples
Case 1
* Chion-in's ''sanmon'' (Kyoto
Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
) – The most important ''sanmon'' in Japan
* Nanzen-ji's ''sanmon'' (Kyoto
Kyoto ( or ; Japanese language, Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan's largest and most populous island of Honshu. , the city had a population of 1.46 million, making it t ...
)
* Kuonji's ''sanmon'' ( Minobu)
Case 2
*Tōdai-ji
is a Buddhist temple complex that was once one of the powerful Nanto Shichi Daiji, Seven Great Temples, located in the city of Nara, Nara, Nara, Japan. The construction of the temple was an attempt to imitate Chinese temples from the much-admir ...
's ''nandaimon'' (Nara
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government within the executive branch, charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. It is also task ...
)
* Hōryū-ji's ''nandaimon'' ( Ikaruga)
* Tōshō-gū's ''yomeimon'' (Nikkō
is a Cities of Japan, city in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. , the city's population was 80,239, in 36,531 households. The population density was 55 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Nikkō is a popular destination for Japanese and ...
)
Notes
References
* * "Sanmon" from thJapanese Art Net User System (JAANUS)
online dictionary accessed on May 2, 2009 *''Iwanami Nihonshi Jiten'' (岩波日本史辞典), CD-Rom Version. Iwanami Shoten, 1999-2001. {{Buddhist temples in Japan Gates in Japan Japanese Buddhist architecture Building types Buildings and structures by type Urban studies and planning terminology