Gyokuhoin Temple Four-Legged Gate (Front Gate of Bishoan)

A Gate of the Oei Era

The Gyokuhoin Temple Four-Legged Gate (Front Gate of Bishoan) (玉鳳院四脚門（微笑庵前門）) is a gate roofed in cypress bark before the Bishoan at Gyokuhoin of around the Oei era (c. 1394–1427) in Hanazono Myoshinjicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on August 28, 1907 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a one-bay hira-karamon gate with a cypress-bark roof; designation number 00444.

The 1907 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.

The Front Gate of Bishoan

The four-legged gate of Gyokuhoin, a sub-temple of Myoshinji, is also called the front gate of Bishoan (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is dated to around the Oei era (c. 1394–1427), in the mid-Muromachi period.

The Agency record describes it as a one-bay hira-karamon, a gate whose roof shows cusped karahafu gables at its sides, roofed in cypress bark (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Is an Important Cultural Property

The Agency record has no commentary; the date, around the Oei era, and its form, a one-bay hira-karamon with a cypress-bark roof, set out what was designated.

What to Look For

At the gate, look for the cypress-bark roof of the hira-karamon form (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

The gate is owned by Gyokuhoin (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Gyokuhoin is a sub-temple within the grounds of Myoshinji. No official information on visiting was found. The founder's hall and gate are introduced together on the Gyokuhoin Temple page.