Therōmon (楼門; lit. tower gate) is one of two types of two-storied gates used in Japan (the other one being thenijūmon, see photo in the gallery below).[1] Even though it was originally developed byBuddhist architecture, it is now used at bothBuddhist temples andShinto shrines. Its otherwise normal upper story is inaccessible and therefore offers no usable space. It is in this respect similar to thetahōtō (a two-storied pagoda) and the multi-storied pagoda, neither of which offers, in spite of appearances, usable space beyond the first story.[2] In the past, the name also used to be sometimes applied to double-roof gates.[3]
This extremely common single-roof gate was developed from the double-roofednijūmon, replacing the flanking roof above the first floor with a very shallow balcony with abalustrade that skirts the entire upper story.[4][5] Therefore, while thenijūmon has a series of brackets (tokyō) supporting the roof'seaves both at the first and at the second story, in therōmon at the first floor these brackets just support the balcony, and have a different structure.[6] Thetokyō are usually three-stepped (mitesaki), but at the first floor they lack tail rafters.[7]
Rōmon structure can vary greatly in its details. The upper area behind the balustrade for example can havemuntined windows or a single window in the centerbay.[4] Side bays can be covered with white plaster.Rōmon usually, but not always, have a hip-and-gable (irimoya) roof.[4] Dimensions go fromTōdai-ji's 5 bays to the more common 3-bays,[1] down to even one bay.
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