中ちゅう門もん

noun

middle gate of a shinden-zukuri corridor

Historical architectural term: a gate placed midway along the corridor connecting an annex (対の屋) to a pond-side pavilion (釣り殿) in Heian-period palatial-style residences.

See also: 寝殿造り · 対の屋 · 釣り殿

• 寝しん殿でん造づくりでは、中ちゅう門もんが対たいの屋やと釣つり殿どのをつなぐ渡わたり廊ろう下かの途と中ちゅうに設もうけられた。

  In shinden-zukuri architecture, a chūmon was placed midway along the roofed corridor connecting the annex and the fishing pavilion.

noun

central gate of a temple

Refers to the gate situated between the main entrance gate and the main hall (本堂) in traditional Buddhist temple layouts.

• その古ふる寺でらでは、中ちゅう門もんをくぐると正しょう面めんに本ほん堂どうが見みえる。

  At that old temple, passing through the chūmon, you see the main hall straight ahead.

noun

middle gate of a tea garden

In tea ceremony gardens (露地), the gate that separates the outer garden (外露地) from the inner garden (内露地), marking a transition toward the teahouse.

• 茶ちゃ室しつへ向むかう露ろ地じでは、中ちゅう門もんを境さかいに外そと露ろ地じと内うち露ろ地じが分わかれる。

  In the tea garden leading to the teahouse, the chūmon divides the outer garden from the inner garden.