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Zuisen Gate

When you enter the Kankai gate, you will face a log step way. On the right side of the middle of the steps is Ryuhi spring, which provided drinking water for the palace. Thus, this gate was called "Zuisenmon" since Zuisen means "great auspicious spring."

Analysis of its photograph, taken at the same time when the photograph of Kankai gate was taken, revealed that unlike other plaques decorated with ascending dragons, this plaque was decorated with a descending dragon.

The head portion of the dragon was a sculpture made separately.

The water quality of Ryuhi spring was excellent and admired by Chinese envoys. The dragon was regarded as a god who brings water to the earth. The descending dragon was designed to show wishes for an everlasting volume of water from Ryuhi spring.

The engraving decoration for the plaque placed on the Zuisen gate was said to be more beautiful than any other plaque decorations. The reproduced plaque is decorated with five engraved dragons, which requires the most refined techniques. Unfortunately, the plaque is placed too high on the gate to see its details.