The Wall That Frames the Compound
The Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall (萩原寺南門及び土塀) is a temple gate and earthen wall of the late Edo period (the Agency gives 1830 to 1886) in Hagiwara, Onohara-cho, Kannonji City, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 19, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records construction in the late Edo period and renovations in 1978 and 1991; the gate is timber with a tile roof and 2.6 metres wide, and the tile-capped earthen wall runs 89 metres in all; registration number 37-0407.
A Log-Post Gate and a Long Earthen Wall
The Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall consists of the earthen wall (Dobei) that marks the east side of the residential compound and the south gate set in it, south of the Great Gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The gate is a 1-bay Yakuimon whose main posts and rear posts (Hikaebashira) are both unsquared logs, giving it a rustic look. The wall is capped with tiles and runs 89 metres in all (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Agency notes that the 89-metre wall lends tension and dignity to the front of the residential compound.
The council report also names the long wall along the east side of the compound as a feature of Hagiwaraji. With the Great Gate and Guardhouse, it makes up the eastern face of the compound.
What to Look For
At the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall, look at the posts of the gate: main and rear posts alike are round, unsquared logs, a deliberate contrast with the richly carved Great Gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Walking along the wall gives a sense of its 89 metres, a single line that runs past the Great Gate and the South Gate and closes off the east side of the compound.
Visiting
The Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall lines the east side of the residential compound and can be seen from the grounds. No official information was found on whether the south gate is used as a passage. Directions to the temple and its yearly events are gathered on the Hagiwaraji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall built?
- In the late Edo period, with renovations in 1978 and 1991; the Agency gives the years 1830 to 1886.
- How long is the earthen wall of the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall?
- 89 metres in all (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of gate is the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate?
- A 1-bay yakuimon gate whose main and rear posts are unsquared logs (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where is the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall?
- Along the east side of the residential compound, with the gate south of the Great Gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall registered?
- On December 19, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall (萩原寺南門及び土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2742-1 Hagiwara, Onohara-cho, Kannonji City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered December 19, 2014 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Gate: timber, tile roof, 2.6 m wide / Wall: earthen, tile-capped, 89 m long |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Hagiwaraji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the grounds |
References
- Hagiwaraji Temple South Gate and Earthen Wall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010367
- Registration of Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures), Council for Cultural Affairs report of July 18, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/bunkasingi_tousin_140718.pdf
Last verified: 2026.11.01
