Large cities are essentially castle towns, with the castle compound (government offices) surrounded by the inner loop road, and the outer loop road accessible through twelve gates. Each gate is identified by a member of the Chinese zodiac: rat (子門), ox (丑門), tiger (寅門), hare (卯門), dragon (辰門), serpent (巳門), horse (午門), ram (未門), monkey (申門), rooster (酉門), dog (戌門), boar (亥門).

The Earth Gate (地門) in Ken is a noted exception.

Labels: 12 kingdoms, tonan