Chion-in Temple Karamon Gate

The Imperial Messenger's Gate with Legendary Carvings

The Chion-in Temple Karamon Gate (知恩院唐門) is the early Edo Karamon gate of Chion-in in Rinka-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, which in 1910 was designated an Important Cultural Property.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a four-legged gate with cusped gables front and back and hip-and-gable sides, roofed in cypress bark.

Chion-in notes that it is also called the Imperial Messenger's Gate and was built in 1641.

Carvings

According to the Agency, it is a four-legged gate showing cusped gables to front and back, with a cypress-bark roof.

Chion-in describes fine carvings of peony scrolls, an old man riding a carp on the north strut, an old man with a scroll riding a crane on the south strut, and pines.

What to Look For

Chion-in says these carvings are thought to draw on legends popular in the Momoyama period.

As the gate for imperial messengers, it combines graceful cusped gables with rich carving.

Visiting the Chion-in Temple Karamon Gate

Chion-in says its gates are open 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The temple layout and visiting information are on the Chion-in group page.