also: はっきゃくもん
eight-legged gate
A traditional Japanese gate style with eight secondary pillars supporting the four main central pillars, typically found in temple or shrine architecture. This is a specialized architectural term.
The eight-legged gate of this temple was built in the Kamakura period.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading やつあしもん is the most common.
Alternate reading using the on'yomi for 八 and 脚; less common but still encountered.
Variant kanji spelling using 足 instead of 脚; both are acceptable.
From 八 (eight) + 脚 (leg) + 門 (gate), referring to the eight secondary pillars that support the gate structure.