noun
forbidden gate; heavily guarded gate
A gate that is strictly off-limits or heavily guarded. Often used in historical or literary contexts.
その城の禁門は、誰も通ることが許されなかった。
No one was allowed to pass through the forbidden gate of that castle.
noun
gate to the imperial palace; gate to the imperial court
Specifically refers to the gate of the imperial palace or court in historical Japan. The term carries a sense of exclusivity and authority.
禁門の変は、幕末の政変の一つである。
The Kinmon Incident is one of the political upheavals of the late Edo period.
noun
Metonymic use: the gate stands for the entire imperial residence. Rare and mostly found in classical or historical texts.
古文書には、禁門を守る武士の記述がある。
In ancient documents, there are descriptions of warriors guarding the imperial residence.
Compound of 禁 (prohibition, forbidden) and 門 (gate). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term has been used since classical times to denote gates that were off-limits to common people, especially those of the imperial palace.