Sanmon

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 templeJAANUS. It can be however often found in temples of other denominations too.
==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 disappeared in temples built during the Muromachi period and was 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.)
A sanmon's size is an indicator of the Zen temple's status. Structurally, the sanmon of a first rank temple as Nanzen-ji in Kyoto is a two-storied, 5x2 bayThe space between two pillars, in Japanese, three entrance gate (see photo below). Its three gates are called , and and symbolize the three gates to enlightenment, or satori.Fowler. Entering, one can symbolically free him or herself from the three passions of , , and Zōjō-ji accessed on May 1, 2009.
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 ceremoniesIwanami 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, lx2-bay, single entrance gate.
===The three ranks of a sanmon===
Image:Nanzenji3.jpg|A high rank, five-bay sanmon at Nanzen-ji. Note the sanrō.
Image:Myotsuji Sanmon 1.jpg| A middle rank, three-bay sanmon at Myōtsū-ji, Fukui prefecture
Image:Sozenji (Higashiyodogawa, Osaka) sanmon.jpg| A low rank sanmon at Sozen-ji in Osaka
===The second story of a sanmon===
Some images of the second story of Kōmyō-ji 's sanmon in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture. It is a high rank Jōdo sect sanmon, the largest of the Kantō region. 
File:Komyoji,-Kamakura gate stairs.jpg|The stairs to the second story
File:Kamakura Komyoji Inside The Sanmon 3.jpg|The second story, inner side
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
== Major sanmon==
;Case 1
*Chion-in's sanmon (Kyoto) - The maximum sanmon in Japan.
*Nanzen-ji's sanmon (Kyoto)
*Kuonji's sanmon (Minobu)
;Case 2
*Tōdai-ji's nandaimon (Nara)
*Hōryū-ji's nandaimon (Ikaruga)
*Tōshō-gū's yomeimon (Nikkō)
== See also ==
* The Glossary of Japanese Buddhism for an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture.
==Notes==
==References==
*
* "Sanmon" from the 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.
Category:Buddhism in Japan
Category:Buddhist art and culture
Category:Zen
Category:Gates in Japan
Category:Japanese architecture
Category:Japanese architectural features
ja:三門