Keywords
Architecture
General Terms
A gate *rōmon 楼門, that appears to have two stories, but in reality is a high gate with a very shallow veranda and balustrade that surrounds the entire building just above the first story. Two examples of building that appear to have stories are the sutra repository *Kyōzō 経蔵 (8th century) and the belfry *Shōrō 鐘楼 (late 10th - early 11th century) at Hōryūji Sai'in 法隆寺西院 in Nara, and the drum tower *Korō 鼓楼 (1240) at Toshōdaiji 唐招堤寺, also in Nara. Such buildings are mainly associated with temples and shrines. According to some scholars, the only true two-storied gate is at Kinpusenji 金峯山寺 (1588) in Nara.
Hōryūji Kyōzō 法隆寺経蔵 (Nara)
Hōryūji Sai'in Shōrō 法隆寺西院鐘楼 (Nara)