Daiippōmon 第一峰門

A unique Chinese style four-legged gate made by Chinese carpenters in 1644 using imported, broad leaf cedar. It is located at the entrance of Sōfukuji 崇福寺, in Nagasaki Prefecture. It has 4-stepped bracket complexes, *yotesaki tokyō 四手先斗きょう, in the front and back of the gate and the corner bracket complexes are set diagonally. The sides have ordinary 3-stepped bracket complexes, *mitesaki tokyō 三手先斗きょう. It has double eaves, and a hip-and-gable roof with frog-leg struts on gable ends. The roof is tile. It is painted in bright, typically Chinese colors. In the late 17th century an upper story was added.