Back door

Japanese: 後戸 - うしろど

The rear entrance of a Buddhist hall. This entrance has religious significance because it is located behind the principal image, and the guardian deity of the principal image or a more fundamental deity or Buddha is placed in front of the entrance through the back door. Typical examples include Shukongojin in the Hokke-do Hall of Todai-ji Temple, Kokannon in the Nigatsu-do Hall, and Madarashin in the Jogyo-do Hall. The incantations used to worship the Uto deity in Buddhist ceremony ceremonies became performing arts, and as the name Uto no Sarugaku indicates, this was the stage for the birth of medieval performing arts. The old man in Noh is called Uto no Kami (the guardian deity or guardian deity), and appears in the Ennen at Shushou-e ceremonies, but it is also common for demons to appear from the back door at Shushou-e ceremonies since ancient times, and both symbolize the religious nature of Uto.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

仏堂の背後の入口のこと。この入口は本尊の背後にあることから宗教的な意味をもち，後戸を入った正面に本尊の護法神やより根源的な神仏を安置する。例えば東大寺法華堂の執金剛神，二月堂の小観音（こかんのん），常行堂の摩多羅神（まだらしん）などがその典型。法会儀礼のなかで後戸の神をまつる呪法は芸能化し〈後戸の猿楽〉という呼称が示すように中世芸能誕生の舞台となった。能楽の翁を後戸の神(宿神･守宮神)といい修正会（しゆしようえ）などの延年に登場するが，古来，修正会に後戸から鬼が出現するのもまた普遍的であり，ともに後戸の宗教性を象徴している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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