A Muromachi gate at the temple entrance
The Horyuji Temple Great South Gate (法隆寺南大門, Hōryū-ji Nandaimon) in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is a mid-Muromachi gate rebuilt in 1438, first protected on March 27, 1901, and designated a National Treasure on March 31, 1953. It stands at the end of the pine-lined approach, and beyond it lie the temple grounds.
It is an eight-legged gate three bays wide with one passage, under a hip-and-gable tile roof. An old ridge beam and a ridge tag are designated with it.
A gate that moved, and was rebuilt
The first Great South Gate stood just south of the Middle Gate. As sub-temples multiplied and the grounds expanded, it was rebuilt on its present site, probably between 1028 and 1037. It burned in 1435, and the present gate went up in 1438, a date known from an inscription on the ridge beam. Many roof tiles are stamped with dates from 1436 to 1438.
Repairs followed in 1606, 1697 and 1914. Because the ground level differs in front and behind, only the outer front has a stone-faced platform; the inner side has a drip channel.
Why it matters
The plan dimensions match one of the gates listed in the temple inventory, so the old size seems to have been kept. Compared with the Great East Gate, also eight-legged, it adds the flourishes of the Middle Ages: a hip-and-gable roof, a coffered ceiling throughout and busier projecting brackets.
The Horyuji Great South Gate uses one-step projecting brackets, with diagonal arms only at the corners and flower-shaped bracket arms between the columns. The tie beams end in carved kibana nosings, and the double-layered rafters sweep up strongly toward the corners. It is counted among the finest Muromachi buildings for its well-judged decoration.
Visiting
The Great South Gate can be passed freely without a ticket. Only the middle of its three bays is a doorway; the side bays are plastered. Before walking through, look up at the flower brackets and the curve of the eaves. From inside, turn around to see the change in ground level and the different platforms.
The guardian kings are in the Middle Gate, not here. Hours, tickets and directions are on the Horyuji page.
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Q&A
- When was the Horyuji Temple Great South Gate built?
- The present gate was rebuilt in 1438 after a fire in 1435.
- Is the Horyuji Great South Gate free to pass?
- Yes. It is the entrance to the grounds; tickets are needed only for the Western Precinct and other inner areas.
- How does the Horyuji Great South Gate differ from the Great East Gate?
- Both are eight-legged gates, but the South Gate has a hip-and-gable roof, a coffered ceiling and ornate brackets, while the East Gate keeps a plainer Nara-period form.
- Are there guardian statues in the Horyuji Great South Gate?
- No. Horyuji's guardian kings have always been in the Middle Gate.
- When did the Horyuji Great South Gate become a National Treasure?
- It was first protected on March 27, 1901, and designated a National Treasure on March 31, 1953.
Basic Information
| Name | Horyuji Temple Great South Gate (Hōryū-ji Nandaimon) |
|---|---|
| Location | Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure |
| Year Designated | Important Cultural Property 1901/3/27 (Meiji 34, under the earlier law); National Treasure 1953/3/31 (Showa 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 1 old ridge beam and 1 ridge tag) |
| Dimensions | Eight-legged gate, 3 bays with 1 passage, hip-and-gable roof, tile roof |
| Owner | Horyuji Temple |
| Public Access | Open passage (no ticket required) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Great South Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2699
- Japan Tourism Agency Multilingual Commentary Database — Great South Gate
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/R1-00197.html
Last verified: 2026.10.01
