The Sōmon Gate

     

This old photograph is another taken from the book, Rokumeikan Hizō Shashinjō (鹿鳴館秘蔵写真帖). The gate pictured is the Sōmon gate (惣門), and is the first of three that lead to Tokugawa Hidetada’s mausoleum. The gate and the mausoleum itself were built by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa Shōgun for his father, the second Tokugawa Shōgun (Hidetada).

Hidetada’s mausoleum is (was?) known as the Daitoku-in (台徳院) and was part of the Zōjō-ji (増上寺) temple complex that would later house the mausoleums of several of the Tokugawa Shōguns. Check out the following, totally-sweet table.

The mausoleums of the Zōjō temple
Tokugawa Hidetada 徳川秀忠 2nd Tokugawa Shōgun Daitoku-in 台徳院
Tokugawa Ienobu 徳川家宣 6th Tokugawa Shōgun Bunshō-in 文昭院
Tokugawa Ietsugu 徳川家継 7th Tokugawa Shōgun Yūshō-in 有章院
Tokugawa Ieshige 徳川家重 9th Tokugawa Shōgun Shunshin-in 惇信院
Tokugawa Ieyoshi 徳川家慶 12th Tokugawa Shōgun Shintoku-in 慎徳院
Tokugawa Iemochi 徳川家茂 14th Tokugawa Shōgun Shōtoku-in 昭徳院

Sadly, the march of time plus a heavy dose of WWII bombing has ensured that nothing more than a handful of gates have survived to the present day of the original mausoleums’ buildings. Perhaps it won’t surprise you to know that the Sōmon gate is one of them.

It was a photo & post by fellow Twitterer, Muza-chan, that sparked my interest in the gate. Here is the post: Daitoku-in Mausoleum Somon Gate Night View. And with the help of that information, I was able to track the gate down to here.

The next time I’m in Tokyo, I will be making a visit to this gate for-sure!

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=9800312 Travis Seifman

    Wow. Gorgeous photo. Not only this black and white one, but muza-chan’s recent color one too. I really need to get over to Zojoji. … There’s a very kind Japanese prints dealer (www.tolmantokyo.com; and quite reasonably priced too) who is based just outside the Daimon. But for whatever reason, the only times I ever got out to that neighborhood was to visit his shop, and always, as it turned out, at an hour that the temple was closed. I really need to be sure to visit Zojoji the next time I’m in Tokyo.

  • Anonymous

    I’ll definitely try and look this up once we’re get to Tokyo. The only problem with visiting the area isn’t something high on our list. :(

  • Anonymous

    The colour one is great, isn’t it? I too will be sure to check it and the Zōjō-ji when next I’m in Tokyo.

    I followed that link, and I think I’d come across it before when I was gathering information on Clifton Karhu. Good stuff.

  • Anonymous

    Totally understandable. There is just so much to see. Not a bad problem to have though. :)

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Sweet photo. I think I said this before, but I’l say it again: I really *love* these old photos. There is so much mystery in them, and of course the overriding thought they bring of “what would it be like if I could step back in time to this place”: no (or fewer) tourists, no gates blocking off every single cool thing and getting in the way of photos, etc…

  • Anonymous

    I know just what you mean. No coke machines either.

    There are plenty more interesting photos in that book, so stay tuned.

  • Rheanna LeRoy

    Thats amazing house its beatuiful.