A sub-temple gate of 1237
The Sogenji Temple Four-Legged Gate (Kangakuin Front Gate) (宗源寺四脚門(勧学院表門), Sōgenji Shikyakumon) in Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, is a gate of the Sogenji sub-temple of Horyuji, built in 1237 in the early Kamakura period and designated an Important Cultural Property on April 30, 1921. Its official name adds the alternative "Kangakuin Front Gate."
It is a four-legged gate with a gabled tile roof, one of the older gates among Horyuji's sub-temples.
Form and date
A four-legged gate has two main posts on its center line, each braced front and back by a pair of auxiliary posts, four in all. It was widely used as a formal gate for temples and residences.
The year 1237 is the same year the Eastern Precinct corridors were built, and the Raido there dates from 1231: building was going on across Horyuji at the time, and this sub-temple gate shows how far it reached.
Horyuji has other designated four-legged gates, such as the early Muromachi Great Bathhouse Front Gate and the early Kamakura Eastern Precinct Four-Legged Gate. With a firm date of 1237, the Sogenji gate is a useful reference point among them.
What to look for
From the side you can read the main and auxiliary posts and the gabled roof structure. Look for the handling of thirteenth-century timbers.
The alternative name, Kangakuin Front Gate, suggests it once served as the front gate of the Kangakuin.
Visiting
The gate is seen from outside. Sogenji is a residential sub-temple, and the grounds behind the gate are not open to the public.
Hours, tickets and directions for Horyuji are on the Horyuji page.
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Q&A
- When was the Sogenji Temple Four-Legged Gate built?
- In 1237, in the early Kamakura period.
- Why is it also called the Kangakuin Front Gate?
- The alternative name in its designation suggests it once served as the front gate of the Kangakuin.
- What is a four-legged gate?
- A gate with two main posts braced front and back by four auxiliary posts, used for formal entrances.
- Can you go through the Sogenji Temple Four-Legged Gate?
- No. Sogenji is closed to the public; the gate is seen from outside.
- Is the Sogenji Temple Four-Legged Gate an Important Cultural Property?
- Yes. It was designated on April 30, 1921.
Basic Information
| Name | Sogenji Temple Four-Legged Gate (Kangakuin Front Gate) |
|---|---|
| Location | Horyuji Sannai, Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property |
| Year Designated | 1921/4/30 (Taisho 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Four-legged gate, gabled roof, tile roof |
| Owner | Horyuji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior only |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Sogenji Four-Legged Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2710
- Cultural Heritage Online — Sogenji Four-Legged Gate
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/db/heritages/detail/123717
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — Horyuji Eastern Precinct Corridors (East)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/2694
Last verified: 2026.10.01
