山さん門もん

noun

main temple gate

The large, often impressive gate at the entrance to a Buddhist temple compound.

• その古ふるい寺でらの山さん門もんは、国くにの重じゅう要よう文ぶん化か財ざいに指し定ていされている。

  The main gate of that old temple is designated an Important Cultural Property.

noun

temple (metonymy)

Metonymic use: the gate stands for the whole temple. Often in literary or formal contexts.

• 山さん門もんをくぐると、そこは静しずかな別べっ世せ界かいだった。

  Passing through the temple gate, I found myself in a quiet, different world.