Kiyomizu-dera gates

The entrance to the Japanese Buddhist temples is usually marked by one or more gates and an interesting fact is that every gate has a name. These names are given according to various, but rigorous sets of criteria, like the position of the gate relative to cardinal points, the architectural style or details (one-story gate, two-story gate) or the type of the statues guarding the gate (Nio guardians, Shitennō guardians).

In this photo you can see the two gates from the entrance to the Kiyomizu-dera temple from Kyoto: the large gate on the left is the Nio-mon (the gate of the two Nio guardians), also called Rōmon, because of its architecture, two-stories with a single roof. The gate on the right is the Sai-mon gate (meaning West Gate) and it is a single story gate.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Nio-mon Gate, Sai-mon Gate, Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese Garden - Kodaiji Temple, Kyoto