Keywords
Architecture
Gates
The red-painted front gate, 5 x 2 bays with three entrances that provided access from the south to enter the *chōdōin 朝堂院, also called hasshōin 八省院 at Heian-kyō 平安京. It is two-storied gate with double roofs with acroterion *shibi 鵄尾 on each end of the ridge. Ōtenmon was on the same axis as the *Suzakumon 朱雀門, the main entrance to the Heian capital. Corridors were located to the right (east), seihōrō 栖鳳楼 and to the left (west), shōranrō 翔鸞楼. Attached to the sides of the gate were the central, front gate at Heian Jingū 平安神宮, said to be modeled after this gate.