Sanmon
Encyclopedia
A , also called is the most important gate 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. It can be however 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.
(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
, 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
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
.. Entering, pilgrims can symbolically free themselves from the three passions of , , and . 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. 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, lx2-bay, single entrance gate.
, Kanagawa prefecture
. It is a high rank Jōdo
sect sanmon, the largest of the Kantō region.
Case 2
Shichidō garan
is a Japanese Buddhist term indicating the seven halls composing the ideal Buddhist temple compound. This compound word is composed by the word , literally meaning "seven halls", and , meaning "temple". The term is often shortened to just garan. To which seven halls the term refers to varies, and...
, the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple. It can be however often found in temples of other denominations too. Most sanmon are 2- or 3-bay
Ken (architecture)
A is a measurement in Japanese architecture. It has two principal uses:* As a proportion for intervals between the pillars of traditional-style buildings. The word is translated in this case in English as "bay". Traditional buildings usually measure an odd number of bays, for example 3×3 or 5×5...
nijūmon
Nijūmon
The is one of two types of two-story gate presently used in Japan , and can be found at most Japanese Buddhist temples. This gate is distinguishable from its relative by the roof above the first floor which skirts the entire upper story, absent in a rōmon...
(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 sōmonSōmon
The is the gate at the entrance of a Buddhist temple in Japan.. It often precedes the bigger and more important sanmon....
(outer gate) and the butsuden (lit. "Hall of Buddha", i.e. the main hall
Main Hall (Japanese Buddhism)
Main hall is the term used in English for the building within a Japanese Buddhist temple compound which enshrines the main object of veneration. Because the various denominations deliberately use different terms, this single English term translates several Japanese words, among them Butsuden,...
). It used to be connected to a portico-like structure called , which however gradually disappeared during the Muromachi period
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1338 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, two years after the brief Kemmu restoration of imperial...
, 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
Tofuku-ji
is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. Tōfuku-ji takes its name from two temples in Nara, Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji. It is one of the so-called Kyoto Gozan or "five great Zen temples of Kyoto". Its honorary sangō prefix is .-History:...
'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
Nanzen-ji
, or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyama established it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
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 enlightenment that literally means "understanding". In the Zen Buddhist tradition, satori refers to a flash of sudden awareness, or individual enlightenment, and is considered a "first step" or embarkation toward nirvana....
.. Entering, pilgrims can symbolically free themselves from the three passions of , , and . 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. The side bays of sanmon of the first two ranks may also house statues of the Niō
Nio
Kongōrikishi or Niō are two wrath-filled and muscular guardians of the Buddha, standing today at the entrance of many Buddhist temples in China, Japan and Korea in the form of frightening wrestler-like statues. They are manifestations of the Bodhisattva ' protector deity and are part of the...
, wardens who are in charge of repelling evil.
A third rank temple will have a single-storied, lx2-bay, single entrance gate.
The second story of a sanmon
Some images of the second story of Kōmyō-ji 's sanmon in KamakuraKamakura, Kanagawa
is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, about south-south-west of Tokyo. It used to be also called .Although Kamakura proper is today rather small, it is often described in history books as a former de facto capital of Japan as the seat of the Shogunate and of the Regency during the...
, Kanagawa prefecture
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
. It is a high rank Jōdo
Jodo
, meaning "the way of the jō", or is a Japanese martial art using short staffs called jō. The art is similar to bōjutsu, and is strongly focused upon defense against the Japanese sword. The jō is a short staff, usually about 3 to 5 feet long...
sect sanmon, the largest of the Kantō region.
Major sanmon
Case 1- Chion-in's sanmon (Kyoto) - The most important sanmon in Japan.
- Nanzen-jiNanzen-ji, or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly , is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyama established it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen...
's sanmon (Kyoto) - KuonjiKuonjiKuon-ji is a major temple in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Buddhist sect, Nichiren Shu. Locally it is referred to as the Minobu-san Temple, after the mountain upon which it is built....
's sanmon (MinobuMinobu, Yamanashiis a town located in Minamikoma District, Yamanashi, Japan.As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 7,672 and a density of 58.51 persons per km²...
)
Case 2
- Tōdai-jiTodai-ji, is a Buddhist temple complex located in the city of Nara, Japan. Its Great Buddha Hall , the largest wooden building in the world, houses the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese simply as Daibutsu . The temple also serves as the Japanese headquarters of the ...
's nandaimon (NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
) - Hōryū-jiHōryū-jiis a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji , or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving as seminary and monastery both....
's nandaimon (IkarugaIkaruga, Narais a town located in Ikoma District, Nara, Japan.Ikaruga is home to Hōryū-ji and Hokki-ji, ancient Buddhist temples collectively inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. Other ancient temples include Hōrin-ji, also in the vicinity of Hōryū-ji....
) - Tōshō-gūNikko Tosho-guis a Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Tōshō-gū is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Initially built in 1617, during the Edo period, while Ieyasu's son Hidetada...
's yomeimon (NikkōNikko, Tochigiis a city in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi Prefecture, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists...
)
See also
- The Glossary of Japanese BuddhismGlossary of Japanese BuddhismThis is the glossary of Japanese Buddhism, including major terms the casual reader might find useful in understanding articles on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries...
for an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture.