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Nishi Honganji Temple is a large temple compound located north west of Kyoto Station with many beautiful buildings of historical and architectural significance. It is one of two head temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism in Kyoto. Both of these temples are called Honganji, and so are distinguished by their location: Nishi Honganji being the western temple, and Higashi Honganji being the eastern temple. The Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism was founded by the monk Shinran who lived from 1173 to 1263

The Karamon is a gate of Nishi Hongan-ji designated a National Treasures of Japan. It is constructed as a four-legged gate with karahafu gables of undulating curves on the front and back

The Karamon is a gate of

Nishi Hongan-ji

The Karamon gate has a roof in the irimoya style

Irimoya style is a style of hip roof sloping down on all four sides and integrated on two opposing sides with a gable (the style is of Chinese origin; it arrived from China in Japan in the 6th century).

Roofing materials such as tile and bark may be used as coverings. This roof is covered by bark shingles made from hinoki cypress

Commemoration of Shinran Shonin’s 750th Memorial

The gate dates to 1573 and was

constructed early in the Momoyama period (1573 –

1614)

The karahafu (kara-hafu) is a type of gable with a style peculiar to Japan. The

characteristic shape is the

undulating curve at the top

This gable is common in traditional architecture,

including Japanese castles, Buddhist temples, and Shinto

shrines

Although kara can be translated as meaning

"China" or "Tang", this type of roof with undulating

bargeboards is an invention of Japanese carpenters in

the late Heian period

The karahafu was named thus because the word kara could also mean "noble" or "elegant", and was often added to names of objects considered grand or intricate regardless of origin

The karahafu developed during the

Heian period and is shown

in picture scrolls to decorate

gates, corridors, and

palanquins

The first known depiction of a

karahafu appears on a

miniature shrine (zushi) in

Shōryoin shrine at Hōryū-ji in

Nara

Karamon is a four-pillared gate covered by a cypress-thatched gable. It is also nicknamed the higurashi-mon, or “Twilight Gate” because the carvings are so beautiful that one could easily forget the time and admire them till the sun goes down.

This gate is always closed and stands there as if expecting to be seen. The gate is decorated by sophisticated carvings that are not only eye-catching but also have the power to dazzle your eyes

You can view the inside of this gate on the southern side of the temple compound.Because this gate is kept closed, to view the outside of this structure you will need to leave the temple compound and follow the walls around to the Kitakoji lane that runs between Nishi Honganji and Ryukoku University

Text: Internet

Pictures: Internet

Nicoleta LeuCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Japan Buddhism Music 2016