An Old Temple in my Neighbourhood

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Thanks for such nice comments, vB, DBII, Aaron and Gnomey!
I certainly admire their sense for beauty and good craftsmanship.

Sorry but I have forgot to introduce the map of the temple.
You will find the square turtle pond in the center.
Thanks!

 
I have never heard of such "false" doorway before but I have been wondering why one of the gates always looks 'incompleted' for a long time.

You may be giving me an answer now, GG.
Please take a look at the attached images.

This gate that located in the west of the temple looks the front gate with its great structure but it is not. Front of the temple is always in the south and the gate should not be isolated from the precincts of the temple. This might be the 'false'.

Sorry GG, I may not be so much detailed about the Chinese culture as you but if this is the false doorway, my wonder is now solved.

Thank you very much for the good question.



 
Interesting...I wonder if that "gate" has a similiar function as the "false" door.

The Chinese believed that spirits can only travel in straight lines (this was also why the road to a cemetary was circular). So a false door was put in place to attract and trap them while a mortal would simply step around and behind the false door and enter the temple through the actual doorway.

What is the age of that gatehouse? The craftsmanship they put into that structure is incredible!
 
The present west gate was rebuilt by donation of Mr. Kohnosuke Matsusita - founder of Panasonic in 1963.

Japanese temples may not have such a false doorway from the beginning, GG.
I have found out an old picture of the temple drawn during 1796-1798.
The west gate looks normal.

........ interesting!

 
Looking at the west gate from the east.
These three pictures were taken on the other day.

I have just known that this gate is also known as "Heaven Gate" !
The heaven was believed being located toward the far west from Japan at the time, so this gate leads to the heaven

Thanks again for your good question, GG!



 
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Thanks Aaron for enjoying my photos.
The more I introduce the temple, the more I know I knew it less

The attached photo shows the east gate.
Few tourists visit here because this is not so famous as the south and west ones.

Few temple has the north gate officially as the north is regarded as its backside.
No devils should come in from one's back...

 
Last edited:
Thanks for your nice comment, wheelsup_cavu.

The east side of the temple faces to the residence area, so people think this side nothing special.
Those residents enjoy the 'gem' everyday!

 
You are welcome and thanks, GG.
This has been a good opportunity for me too, to know more details about the temple.

3D Shitennouji temple on Google Earth.
I should have noticed it much earlier.
Attached is a kmz file to go there directly.

My home is near the tower in up right.
Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • Shitennoji_kmz_file.zip
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  • Shitennnouji_screenshot.jpg
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Shinpachi said:
Here are new and old photos seeing the west gate from the west.
New one was taken on Oct 6, 2010.
Old one was circa 1870 by an Englishman.

Please compare to enjoy.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Shinpachi

where my family are buried
3. St Peter St Paul Church, Pickering, medieval wall paintings, St George slaying the dragon, martyrdom of Saint Edmund, Norman chancel arch, nave, spire, tower, entrance

a picture of the wall paintings which are very unusual in UK almost all were destroyed
 

Attachments

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