Zuiganji Temple Middle Gate

The Shingled Gate Before the Main Hall

The Zuiganji Temple Middle Gate (瑞巖寺中門, Zuiganji chumon) is a gate of about 1609 at Zuiganji in Matsushima, Matsushima Town, Miyagi Prefecture, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 7, 1900. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a four-legged gate (shikyakumon) with a gabled roof of wooden shingles, with two taikobei walls designated as attached items.

According to the temple, the Middle Gate stands directly in front of the main hall. While Zuiganji's buildings, including the main hall, kuri, Onari entrance and Onari Gate, are mostly roofed in tile, the Middle Gate alone is shingled.

Why the Middle Gate Matters

The Middle Gate was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1900. Miyagi Prefecture explains that it is a symmetrical four-legged gate, with two supporting posts in front of and behind each main post and the ridge set directly above the main posts. Its decorated brackets and the projecting ends of its tie beams are unconventional and original, and with no walls and its frame exposed, it is described as a gate both vigorous and austere.

The prefecture draws attention to the contrast between the heavy yakuimon of the Onari Gate and the airy, open frame of the Middle Gate. Passing through the Middle Gate into the courtyard brings the main hall into view ahead, with the kuri and corridor to the right and the Onari entrance to the left, so this is the gate that leads visitors into the heart of the temple.

What to Look For

Start with the roof. As the only shingled roof among Zuiganji's tiled buildings, its thin layered boards give the gate a light presence.

Then look at the decorated brackets and the projecting beam ends, the parts the prefecture calls unconventional and original. The plaque on the front reads Zuigan Enpuku Zenji and was written by Toshu Tosho, the temple's 100th abbot, according to the temple.

Visiting the Middle Gate

The Middle Gate stands within Zuiganji's precinct, directly on the route to the main hall. Admission, hours and access are on the Zuiganji Temple page.