LIST

Commentary

This is the Main Southern Gate; it is a registered tangible cultural property. It is the front gate of Zentsu-ji, and located in the south of the Garan complex. The current gate was rebuilt in 1908 to commemorate Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War. This 9.7 meter tall Koraimon-style gate has roofs over the supporting pillars as well as the main gate. The front gate has a tablet with Gogakusan written on it, which is the honorific mountain name prefixed to Zentsu-ji. Along the eaves of the gate’s four corners are enshrined statues of the Four Heavenly Kings (Dhrtarastra, Virudhaka, Virupaksa, and Vaisravana). In the Koya Daishi Gyojo Zue drawings depicting the actions of the Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi (Kukai) during his life and his good omens, when the ying-yang diviner Abe no Seimei visited Zentsu-ji and approached the front of the gate, the pine torch flames went out and then relighted once he had passed through the gate. Seimei then commented, “this gate will protect this temple of the Four Heavenly Kings from fire.”

Designated Section

Registered tangible cultural property

Structure

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Era

Meiji Period; Meiji 41 (1908)

Address

3-3-1 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture