山門(さんもん)

さんもん
noun
temple gate, main gate of a Buddhist temple
building
1. temple gate, main gate of a Buddhist temple
The main entrance gate of a Buddhist temple complex. Originally referred to the gate of a mountain temple, since many temples were built on mountains. By extension, can also refer to the temple itself.
山門(さんもん)をくぐる。
To pass through the temple gate.
立派(りっぱ)な山門(さんもん)が見(み)えてきた。
An impressive temple gate came into view.
南禅寺(なんぜんじ)の山門(さんもん)は日本(にほん)でも有数(ゆうすう)の大(おお)きさを誇(ほこ)る。
The temple gate of Nanzen-ji boasts one of the largest sizes in Japan.

山門(さんもん) literally means "mountain gate" because Buddhist temples in Japan were traditionally built on mountains (山寺(やまでら)).

Similar words

Usage

Also written 三門(さんもん) (three gates), referring to the three gates of enlightenment in Buddhism: 空(くう) (emptiness), 無相(むそう) (formlessness), and 無願(むがん) (desirelessness). Both kanji spellings are used.

Related Words

Compare: 鳥居(とりい) (gate of a Shinto shrine)
general
Added 2026.2.22 13:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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