also: むこうからもん
karamon gate with karahafu eaves on both sides
A type of traditional Japanese gate featuring an undulating karahafu gable on both the front and rear sides. Used in temple and shrine architecture.
The mukai-karamon gate of this shrine was built in the Edo period.
向唐門は、前後に唐破風があるのが特徴です。
A mukai-karamon is characterized by having karahafu gables on both the front and back.
The undulating gable itself; 向唐門 is a gate that incorporates this architectural feature on two sides.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading むかいからもん is the most common.
Alternate reading; less common but still encountered.
Compound of 向 (mukai, 'facing') + 唐門 (karamon, 'Chinese-style gate'). The name reflects the gate having karahafu eaves on both the front and back.