The gate of Nanzenji temple - Goemon's view

"Sanmon-Gosan-no-Kiri", meaning "The Golden Gate and the Paulownia Crest", set in  Nanzenji temple, Kyoto, is one of most popular Kabuki play.

This Kabuki play describe the confrontation between Goemon Ishikawa, Japanese outlaw like Robin Hood, and Hisayoshi Mashiba, alias for Hideyoshi Toyotomi(Hashiba), who was the 2nd great unifier of Sengoku period and emperor chief advisor.

"Sanmon", the main gate of Nanzenji temple, Kyoto
(C)JAPAN a while ago

Scene of Goemon versus Hisayoshi, from a Kabuki poster printed by Toyokuni Uataga 2nd in 1820's

In the opening of story, Goemon at upstairs of main gate of Nanzenji temple says "What a beautiful view ! Oh, what a beautiful view there are!" After few minutes, Hisayoshi come at ground floor and says "Oh Ishikawa! Even if there are no sands in the beach, but there are still robbers like you." At same time, Goemon throw hand blade to Hisayoshi, the enemy of Goemon's true father and adoptive father, but Hisayoshi catch it by dipper.

The "Goemon's view", seeing Kyoto City and paulownia crest from first floor of the main gate of Nanzenji temple
(C)JAPAN a while ago

Today, we can see Goemon's view from the first floor of this gate, and compose Tanka poetry like a great unifier at ground floor without danger ! However, In historical fact, this gate built in 1628, after 3 decades from when Goemon was executed by Hideyoshi.

Playing "Sanmon-Gosan-no-Kiri", Kichiemon Nakamura 1st as Goemon, Kikugoro Onoe 6th as Hisayoshi at "Ichimura-za" Kabuki theatre in 1916
(Public Domain)