The north side of the restored Karamon gate of Nishi Hongwanji temple is seen in Kyoto's Shimogyo Ward on Nov. 10, 2021. (Mainichi/Kazuki Yamazaki)

       KYOTO -- The full restoration of the Karamon gate of Nishi Hongwanji Temple in this west Japan city -- designated as a national treasure -- has been completed after more than three years of work, reviving the contrast between the black lacquer and metal ornaments as well as the vivid coloring of wood carvings.

       The gate stands on the south side of the temple grounds in Kyoto's Shimogyo Ward. With the sunlight, the renovated structure shines dazzlingly.

       This four-pillared gate's roof is thatched with Japanese cypress tree bark. It has Chinese-style gables on the north and south sides, and small triangle-shaped "chidori" gables on the east and west sides. The gate is about 8.7 meters tall from the foundation stones, and its pillars are approximately 4.4 meters apart from north to south, and some 5.4 meters apart from east to west.

       The restoration work of the typically gorgeous Momoyama-style structure, which is decorated with carvings, paintings and other craftworks, took some three years and four months from June 2018. It is the first time in about 40 years for the gate to undergo full restoration.

       The gate is also known as the "higurashi-mon" (all day gate) because one could lose track of time and spend an entire day admiring its lavish beauty, and a total of 107 carvings including those of a peacock, lion, qilin -- an imaginary creature in Chinese mythology -- and tiger are spectacular. Because a survey during the restoration work revealed that one animal that had been considered as a tiger was actually a leopard with a ring pattern, it was repainted this time. According to the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, it is unclear when the mistake was made.

       (Japanese original by Yoko Minami, Kyoto Bureau)

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