A Two-Storey Gate Held Up by Strongmen
The Bairin Tenmangu Shrine Romon Gate (梅林天満宮楼門) is a two-storey gate of the late Edo period in Tsuru, Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 19, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a timber gate roofed in copper sheet, with a building area of 32 square metres; registration number 43-0056.
A Gate Supported by Strongmen
The Bairin Tenmangu Shrine Romon Gate is a two-storey gate three bays wide with one passage (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its upper storey is a hip-and-gable structure 3 bays by 2, ringed by a railed veranda, with three-step bracket sets and tail rafters carrying the double-tiered eaves.
The lower storey has a cusped gable over the eaves front and back, and carved strongmen hold up its ridge (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes the strongly regional character of its proportions and its high base, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the strongmen supporting the lower ridge and the railed veranda around the upper storey (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Bairin Tenmangu Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The four registered structures are introduced together on the Bairin Tenmangu Shrine page. No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was the gate built?
- In the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of gate is it?
- A two-storey gate three bays wide, its upper storey under a hip-and-gable roof.
- What should I look for?
- The carved strongmen holding up the lower ridge.
- Where is Bairin Tenmangu Shrine?
- In Tsuru, Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture.
- When was the Bairin Tenmangu Shrine Romon Gate registered?
- On September 19, 2003 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Bairin Tenmangu Shrine Romon Gate (梅林天満宮楼門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 499 Tsuru, Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/09/19 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, copper-sheet roof, 32 m² |
| Owner | Bairin Tenmangu Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Bairin Tenmangu Shrine Romon Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00003636
Last verified: 2026.10.20
