Chumon Gate

Main entrance to Koyasan's Danjo Garan temple complex, rebuilt in 2015 to mark the 1,200th anniversary of the founding of Koyasan by the priest Kukai. The previous gate burned down in 1843. The outer statues, dating to the Edo period and the only parts that survived the fire, depict Jikokuten holding a sword and Tamonten holding a treasure house. The inner statues from 2015 are noticeably lighter in wood color. Look closely at the chests of the inner guardians: a cicada represents clarity, and a dragonfly, which can only fly straight forward, represents moving steadily toward one's goal.