![ItsukushimaTorii7379](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/ItsukushimaTorii7379.jpg)
A is a traditional
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred.
The presence of a ''torii'' at the entrance is usually the simplest way to identify Shinto shrines, and a small ''torii'' icon represents them on Japanese road maps.
The first appearance of ''torii'' gates in Japan can be reliably pinpointed to at least the mid-
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...
; they are mentioned in a text written in 922.
The oldest existing stone ''torii'' was built in the 12th century and belongs to a
Hachiman shrine
A is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the ''kami'' Hachiman. It is the second most numerous type of Shinto shrine after those dedicated to Inari Ōkami (see Inari shrine). There are about 44,000 Hachiman shrines.
Originally the name 八幡 was ...
in
Yamagata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. Yamagata Prefecture has a population of 1,079,950 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 9,325 km² (3,600 sq mi). Yamagata Prefecture borders Akita Prefecture to the nor ...
. The oldest existing wooden ''torii'' is a ''ryōbu torii'' (see description below) at Kubō Hachiman Shrine in
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Yamanashi Prefecture has a population of 817,192 (1 January 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,465 km2 (1,724 sq mi). Yamanashi Prefecture borders Saitama Prefecture to the ...
built in 1535.
''Torii'' gates were traditionally made from wood or stone, but today they can be also made of reinforced concrete, copper, stainless steel or other materials. They are usually either unpainted or painted
vermilion
Vermilion (sometimes vermillion) is a color, color family, and pigment most often made, since ancient history, antiquity until the 19th century, from the powdered mineral cinnabar (a form of mercury sulfide, which is toxic) and its correspondi ...
with a black upper
lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...
.
Shrines of Inari, the ''
kami
are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...
'' of fertility and industry, typically have many ''torii'' because those who have been successful in business often donate ''torii'' in gratitude.
Fushimi Inari-taisha
is the head shrine of the ''kami'' Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines ...
in
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
has thousands of such ''torii'', each bearing the donor's name.
Etymology
![Tatsuta-taisha, torii](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Tatsuta-taisha%2C_torii.jpg)
The ''torii'', a gateway erected on the approach to every Shinto shrine, may be derived from
the Indian word ''
torana
''Torana'' ( sa, तोरण; '' awr-uh-nuh') is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Toranas can also be widely seen in Southeast Asia and ...
''. While the Indian term denotes a gateway, the Japanese characters can be translated as "bird perch".
Ancient Indian ''torana'' sacred gateway architecture has influenced gateway architecture across Asia, especially where
Buddhism was transmitted from India; Chinese ''
paifang
A ''paifang'', also known as a ''pailou'', is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure. Evolved from the Indian subcontinent's ''torana'' through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has developed many styles ...
'' gateways,
[ Japanese ''torii'' gateways,] Korean ''hongsalmun
In architecture, a ''hongsalmun'' is a gate for entering a sacred place in Korea. ''Hongsalmun'', also called ''hongjeonmun'' or ''hongmun'', are usually erected to indicate Korean Confucian sites, such as shrines, tombs, and academies such as ' ...
'' gateways, Vietnam ''Tam quan
A Tam quan (Chữ Hán: 三關) or Tam môn (Chữ Hán: 三門) is a style of traditional gateway symbolic of Vietnamese Buddhism, it has three aisles (traditionally, the middle aisle is the largest and the two side aisles are smaller) not only ...
'' gateways and '' Sao Ching Cha'' in Thailand have been derived from the Indian ''torana''. The functions of all are similar, but they generally differ based on their respective architectural styles. According to several scholars, the vast evidence shows how the ''torii'', both etymologically and architecturally, were originally derived from the ''torana'', a free-standing sacred ceremonial gateway which marks the entrance of a sacred enclosure, such as Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
-Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
temple or shrine, or city. Bernhard Scheid wonders whether ''torii'' existed in Japan before Buddhism or arrived with it from India.
Uses
The function of a ''torii'' is to mark the entrance to a sacred space. For this reason, the road leading to a Shinto shrine (''sandō
A in Japanese architecture is the road approaching either a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple.Iwanami Japanese dictionary, 6th Edition (2008), DVD version. Its point of origin is usually straddled in the first case by a Shinto ''torii'', in t ...
'') is almost always straddled by one or more ''torii'', which are therefore the easiest way to distinguish a shrine from a Buddhist temple. If the ''sandō'' passes under multiple ''torii'', the outer of them is called .[ The following ones, closer to the shrine, are usually called, in order, and . Other ''torii'' can be found farther into the shrine to represent increasing levels of holiness as one nears the inner sanctuary ('']honden
In Shinto shrine architecture, the , also called , or sometimes as in Ise Shrine's case, is the most sacred building at a Shinto shrine, intended purely for the use of the enshrined ''kami'', usually symbolized by a mirror or sometimes by a sta ...
''), core of the shrine.[ Also, because of the strong relationship between Shinto shrines and the Japanese ]Imperial family
A royal family is the immediate family of King, kings/Queen regnant, queens, Emir, emirs/emiras, Sultan, sultans/Sultana (title), sultanas, or raja/rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the ...
, a ''torii'' stands also in front of the tomb of each Emperor.
In the past ''torii'' must have been used also at the entrance of Buddhist temples. Even today, as prominent a temple as Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
's Shitennō-ji
Shitennō-ji ( ja, 四天王寺, ''Temple of the Four Heavenly Kings'') is a Buddhist temple in Ōsaka, Japan. It is also known as Arahaka-ji, Nanba-ji, or Mitsu-ji. The temple is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially-a ...
, founded in 593 by Shōtoku Taishi Shōtoku may refer to:
* Prince Shōtoku (574-622), a politician of the Asuka period
* Empress Kōken, or Empress Shōtoku (718-770), the 48th imperial ruler of Japan
* Shōtoku (era)
was a after ''Hōei'' and before '' Kyōhō.'' This period ...
and the oldest state-built Buddhist temple in the country (and world), has a ''torii'' straddling one of its entrances. (The original wooden ''torii'' burned in 1294 and was then replaced by one in stone.) Many Buddhist temples include one or more Shinto shrines dedicated to their tutelary ''kami
are the deities, divinities, spirits, phenomena or "holy powers", that are venerated in the Shinto religion. They can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, or beings and the qualities that these beings express; they can also be the sp ...
''("Chinjusha
In Japan, a is a Shinto shrine which enshrines a ; that is, a patron spirit that protects a given area, village, building or a Buddhist temple. The Imperial Palace has its own tutelary shrine dedicated to the 21 guardian gods of Ise Shrine. ...
"), and in that case a ''torii'' marks the shrine's entrance. Benzaiten is a syncretic
Syncretism () is the practice of combining different beliefs and various schools of thought. Syncretism involves the merging or assimilation of several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, thu ...
goddess derived from the Indian divinity Sarasvati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
, who unites elements of both Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
and Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
. For this reason halls dedicated to her can be found at both temples and shrines, and in either case in front of the hall stands a ''torii''. The goddess herself is sometimes portrayed with a ''torii'' on her head.
Finally, until the Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
(1868–1912) ''torii'' were routinely adorned with plaques carrying Buddhist sutras
''Sutra'' ( sa, सूत्र, translit=sūtra, translit-std=IAST, translation=string, thread)Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aph ...
.
''Yamabushi
are Japanese mountain ascetic hermits. They are generally part of the syncretic religion, which includes Tantric Buddhist, Shinto, and Japanese Taoist elements.
Their origins can be traced back to the solitary Yama-bito and some (saints or h ...
'', Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long tradition as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers, sometimes use as their symbol a ''torii''.
The ''torii'' is also sometimes used as a symbol of Japan in non-religious contexts. For example, it is the symbol of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment
The Marine Corps Security Force Regiment is a dedicated security and anti-terrorism unit of the United States Marine Corps. It provides security forces to guard high-value naval installations, most notably those containing nuclear vessels and w ...
and the 187th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and of other US forces in Japan.
Origins
The origins of the ''torii'' are unknown and there are several different theories on the subject, none of which has gained universal acceptance. Because the use of symbolic gates is widespread in Asia—such structures can be found for example in India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
, and within Nicobarese and Shompen
The Shompen or Shom Pen are the indigenous people of the interior of Great Nicobar Island, part of the Indian union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Shompen are a designated Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Tribe.
...
villages—historians believe they may be an imported tradition.
They may, for example, have originated in India from the ''torana
''Torana'' ( sa, तोरण; '' awr-uh-nuh') is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Toranas can also be widely seen in Southeast Asia and ...
'' gates in the monastery of Sanchi
Sanchi is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of the States and territories of India, State of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is located, about 23 kilometres from Raisen, Raisen town, dist ...
in central India. According to this theory, the ''torana'' was adopted by Shingon Buddhism
Shingon monks at Mount Koya
is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asia, originally spread from India to China through traveling monks such as Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra.
K ...
founder Kūkai
Kūkai (; 27 July 774 – 22 April 835Kūkai was born in 774, the 5th year of the Hōki era; his exact date of birth was designated as the fifteenth day of the sixth month of the Japanese lunar calendar, some 400 years later, by the Shingon sec ...
, who used it to demarcate the sacred space used for the homa
Homa may refer to:
Places Ethiopia
* Homa (woreda), a district in Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Kenya
* Homa Bay, a town and a bay on the shore of Lake Victoria in Kenya
* Homa Mountain, a volcano near Homa Bay, Kenya
Iran
* Chal Homa, Mark ...
ceremony. The hypothesis arose in the 19th and 20th centuries due to similarities in structure and name between the two gates. Linguistic and historical objections have now emerged, but no conclusion has yet been reached.
In Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estima ...
, Thailand, a Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...
structure called Sao Ching Cha strongly resembles a ''torii''. Functionally, however, it is very different as it is used as a swing. During ceremonies Brahmins swing, trying to grab a bag of coins placed on one of the pillars.
Other theories claim ''torii'' may be related to the ''pailou Pailou may refer to:
*Paifang, a traditional Chinese architectural form like an archway Towns
* Pailou, Chizhou, in Guichi District, Chizhou, Anhui
* Pailou, Jingmen, in Dongbao District, Jingmen, Hubei
*Pailou, Haicheng, Liaoning
Townships
* P ...
'' of China. These structures however can assume a great variety of forms, only some of which actually somewhat resemble a ''torii''. The same goes for Korea's "hongsal-mun". Unlike its Chinese counterpart, the hongsal-mun does not vary greatly in design and is always painted red, with "arrowsticks" located on the top of the structure (hence the name).
Various tentative etymologies of the word ''torii'' exist. According to one of them, the name derives from the term .
Another hypothesis takes the name literally: the gate would originally have been some kind of bird perch. This is based on the religious use of bird perches in Asia, such as the Korean ''sotdae
A () is a tall wooden pole or stone pillar with a carved bird on its top, built for the purpose of folk belief in Korea. Like , wooden totem poles with a sculptured human face, it was usually erected near the entrance of a village to ward off evi ...
'' (솟대), which are poles with one or more wooden birds resting on their top. Commonly found in groups at the entrance of villages together with totem pole
Totem poles ( hai, gyáaʼaang) are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually ...
s called ''jangseung
A ''jangseung'' or village guardian is a Korean totem pole usually made of wood. Jangseungs were traditionally placed at the edges of villages to mark village boundaries and frighten away demons. They were also worshipped as village tutelary deit ...
'', they are talisman
A talisman is any object ascribed with religious or magical powers intended to protect, heal, or harm individuals for whom they are made. Talismans are often portable objects carried on someone in a variety of ways, but can also be installed perm ...
s which ward off evil spirits and bring the villagers good luck. "Bird perches" similar in form and function to the ''sotdae'' exist also in other shamanistic
Shamanism is a religious practice that involves a practitioner (shaman) interacting with what they believe to be a spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal of this is usually to direct spirits or spiri ...
cultures in China, Mongolia
Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 million, ...
and Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part of ...
. Although they do not look like ''torii'' and serve a different function, these "bird perches" show how birds in several Asian cultures are believed to have magic or spiritual properties, and may therefore help explain the enigmatic literal meaning of the ''torii's'' name ("bird perch").[''Torii'' used to be also called . The presence of the honorific ''Mi-'' or ''Go-'' makes it likely that by then their use was already associated with shrines.]
Poles believed to have supported wooden bird figures very similar to the ''sotdae'' have been found together with wooden birds, and are believed by some historians to have somehow evolved into today's ''torii''. Intriguingly, in both Korea and Japan single poles represent deities (''kami'' in the case of Japan) and is the counter
Counter may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Counter machine, a subclass of register machines
* Counter (digital), an electronic device, mechanical device, or computer program for counting
* Loop counter, the variable that controls the iter ...
for ''kami''.
In Japan birds have also long had a connection with the dead, this may mean it was born in connection with some prehistorical funerary rite. Ancient Japanese texts like the Kojiki
The , also sometimes read as or , is an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, hymns, genealogies, oral traditions, and semi-historical accounts down to 641 concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago, the , and the Japanese imperia ...
and the Nihon Shoki for example mention how Yamato Takeru
, originally , was a Japanese semi-legendary prince of the Yamato dynasty, son of Emperor Keikō, who is traditionally counted as the 12th Emperor of Japan. His name written in kanji can vary, in the '' Nihon Shoki'' it is spelled 日本武尊 ...
after his death became a white bird and in that form chose a place for his own burial. For this reason, his mausoleum was then called . Many later texts also show some relationship between dead souls and white birds, a link common also in other cultures, shamanic like the Japanese. Bird motifs from the Yayoi
The started at the beginning of the Neolithic in Japan, continued through the Bronze Age, and towards its end crossed into the Iron Age.
Since the 1980s, scholars have argued that a period previously classified as a transition from the Jōmon p ...
and Kofun periods associating birds with the dead have also been found in several archeological sites. This relationship between birds and death would also explain why, in spite of their name, no visible trace of birds remains in today's ''torii'': birds were symbols of death, which in Shinto brings defilement (''kegare
is the Japanese term for a state of pollution and defilement, important particularly in Shinto as a religious term. Typical causes of ''kegare'' are the contact with any form of death, childbirth (for both parents), disease, and menstruation, an ...
'').
Finally, the possibility that ''torii'' are a Japanese invention cannot be discounted. The first ''torii'' could have evolved already with their present function through the following sequence of events:
* Four posts were placed at the corners of a sacred area and connected with a rope, thus dividing sacred and mundane.
* Two taller posts were then placed at the center of the most auspicious direction, to let the priest in.
* A rope was tied from one post to the other to mark the border between the outside and the inside, the sacred and the mundane. This hypothetical stage corresponds to a type of ''torii'' in actual use, the so-called , an example of whic
can be seen
in front of Ōmiwa Shrine
, also known as , is a Shinto shrine located in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is noted because it contains no sacred images or objects because it is believed to serve Mount Miwa, the mountain on which it stands. For the same re ...
's ''haiden Haiden may refer to:
*A Gewürztraminer wine
* Haiden (Shinto), the hall of worship of a Shinto shrine
See also
* Heiden (disambiguation)
{{disambig ...
'' in ''Nara'' (see also the photo in the gallery).
* The rope was replaced by a lintel.
* Because the gate was structurally weak, it was reinforced with a tie-beam, and what is today called or (see illustration at right) was born. This theory however does nothing to explain how the gates got their name.
The ''shinmei torii'', whose structure agrees with the historians' reconstruction, consists of just four unbarked and unpainted logs: two vertical pillars () topped by a horizontal lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...
() and kept together by a tie-beam (). The pillars may have a slight inward inclination called or just . Its parts are always straight.
Parts and ornamentations
*''Torii'' may be unpainted or painted vermilion and black. The color black is limited to the ''kasagi'' and the . Very rarely ''torii'' can be found also in other colors. Kamakura
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
Kamakura has an estimated population of 172,929 (1 September 2020) and a population density of 4,359 persons per km² over the total area of . Kamakura was designated as a city on 3 November 1939.
Kamak ...
's Kamakura-gū
is a shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It was erected by Emperor Meiji in 1869 to enshrine the spirit of Prince Morinaga, who was imprisoned and later executed where the shrine now stands in 1335 by order of Ashikaga Tadayoshi. For ...
for example has a white and red one.
* The ''kasagi'' may be reinforced underneath by a second horizontal lintel called .
* ''Kasagi'' and the ''shimaki'' may have an upward curve called .
* The ''nuki'' is often held in place by wedges (). The ''kusabi'' in many cases are purely ornamental.
* At the center of the ''nuki'' there may be a supporting strut called , sometimes covered by a tablet carrying the name of the shrine (see photo in the gallery).
*The pillars often rest on a white stone ring called or . The stone is sometimes replaced by a decorative black sleeve called .
* At the top of the pillars there may be a decorative ring called .
* The gate has a purely symbolic function and therefore there usually are no doors or board fences, but exceptions exist, as for example in the case of Ōmiwa Shrine
, also known as , is a Shinto shrine located in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is noted because it contains no sacred images or objects because it is believed to serve Mount Miwa, the mountain on which it stands. For the same re ...
's triple-arched ''torii'' (''miwa torii'', see below).
Styles
Structurally, the simplest is the (see illustration below).[The two names are simply different readings of the same characters.] Probably one of the oldest types of torii, it consists of two posts with a sacred rope called '' shimenawa'' tied between them.
All other ''torii'' can be divided in two families, the and the .[Other ways of classifying ''torii'' exist, based for example on the presence or absence of the ''shimaki''. See for example the sit]
Jinja Chishiki
''Torii'' of the first have only straight parts, the second have both straight and curved parts.
''Shinmei'' family
The ''shinmei torii'' and its variants are characterized by straight upper lintels.
File:Shime torii.svg, ''Shime torii'' – just two posts and a ''shimenawa''.
File:Shinmei torii 2.svg, ''Shinmei torii''.
File:Geku - Ise torii.svg, ''Ise torii'' – a ''shinmei torii'' with a ''kasagi'' pentagonal in section, a ''shimaki'' and ''kusabi''.
File:Kashima Torii.svg, ''Kashima torii'' – a ''shinmei torii'' with ''kusabi'' and a ''nuki'' protruding from the sides.
File:Kasuga torii.svg, ''Kasuga torii'' – a ''myōjin torii'' with straight top lintels cut at a square angle.
File:Hachiman torii.svg, ''Hachiman torii'' – a ''kasuga torii'', but the two lintels have a downwards slant.
File:Mihashira Torii.svg, ''Mihashira torii'' – a triple ''shinmei torii''.
Photo gallery
File:Torii or traditional Japanese gate. Heian-jingu. Kyoto.jpg, Torii or traditional Japanese gate. Heian-jingū. Sakyō-ku, Kyoto.
File:Beachside Torii, Naoshima.jpg, Beachside torii on the island of Naoshima
is an island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, part of Kagawa Prefecture. The island is best known for its many contemporary art installations and museums. The administers Naoshima and 26 smaller islands nearby. As of 2020, the town has an estimated ...
.
File:Tsukiyomi-no-miya(Naiku) 03.JPG, ''Ise torii'', first type. Note the presence of ''kasagi''.
File:Naiku 03.JPG, ''Ise torii'', second type. Note the ''shimaki''.
File:Kiyamaji 11.JPG, ''Hachiman torii''.
File:Yamato mihasira006.jpg, ''Mihashira torii''.
File:Yokoteyama torii.jpg, A ''shiroki torii''.
File:Hidatorii.jpg, Torii in the Hida Minzoku Mura Folk Village.
''Shinmei torii''
The , which gives the name to the family, is constituted solely by a lintel
A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...
(''kasagi'') and two pillars (''hashira'') united by a tie beam (''nuki''). In its simplest form, all four elements are rounded and the pillars have no inclination. When the ''nuki'' is rectangular in section, it is called ''Yasukuni torii'', from Tokyo's Yasukuni Jinja
is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji in June 1869 and commemorates those who died in service of Empire of Japan, Japan, from the Boshin War of 1868–1869, to the two Sino-Japanese Wars, First Sino-Japane ...
. It is believed to be the oldest ''torii'' style.
''Ise torii''
(see illustration above) are gates found only at the Inner Shrine and Outer Shrine at Ise Shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and .
The Inner ...
in Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Mie Prefecture has a population of 1,781,948 () and has a geographic area of . Mie Prefecture is bordered by Gifu Prefecture to the north, Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to ...
. For this reason, they are also called ''Jingū torii'', from Jingū, Ise Grand Shrine's official Japanese name.
There are two variants. The most common is extremely similar to a ''shinmei torii'', its pillars however have a slight inward inclination and its ''nuki'' is kept in place by wedges (''kusabi''). The ''kasagi'' is pentagonal in section (see illustration in the gallery below). The ends of the ''kasagi'' are slightly thicker, giving the impression of an upward slant. All these ''torii'' were built after the 14th century.
The second type is similar to the first, but has also a secondary, rectangular lintel (''shimaki'') under the pentagonal ''kasagi''.
This and the ''shinmei torii'' style started becoming more popular during the early 20th century at the time of State Shinto
was Imperial Japan's ideological use of the Japanese folk religion and traditions of Shinto. The state exercised control of shrine finances and training regimes for priests to strongly encourage Shinto practices that emphasized the Emperor as ...
because they were considered the oldest and most prestigious.
''Kasuga torii''
The is a ''myōjin torii'' (see illustration above) with straight top lintels. The style takes its name from Kasuga-taisha
is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lan ...
's , or main ''torii''.
The pillars have an inclination and are slightly tapered. The ''nuki'' protrudes and is held in place by ''kusabi'' driven in on both sides.
This ''torii'' was the first to be painted vermilion and to adopt a ''shimaki'' at Kasuga Taisha
is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lan ...
, the shrine from which it takes its name.
''Hachiman torii''
Almost identical to a ''kasuga torii'' (see illustration above), but with the two upper lintels at a slant, the first appeared during the Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...
. The name comes from the fact that this type of ''torii'' is often used at Hachiman shrines.
''Kashima torii''
The (see illustration above) is a ''shinmei torii'' without ''korobi'', with ''kusabi'' and a protruding nuki. It takes its name from Kashima Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Kashima, Ibaraki in the northern Kantō region of Japan. It is dedicated to , one of the patron deities of martial arts. Various dōjō of '' kenjutsu'' and '' kendō'' often display a hanging scroll emblazoned ...
in Ibaraki Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Ibaraki Prefecture has a population of 2,871,199 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Ibaraki Prefecture borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north, ...
.
''Kuroki torii''
The is a ''shinmei torii'' built with unbarked wood. Because this type of ''torii'' requires replacement at three years intervals, it is becoming rare. The most notorious example is Nonomiya Shrine
, or the Shrine in the Country,Tyler, Royall. (1992) ''Japanese Nō Dramas,'' p. 205./ref> is a Shinto shrine in the Arashiyama district on the west side of the city of Kyoto in Kyoto prefecture, Japan, close to its bamboo forest. The specific ...
in Kyoto. The shrine now however uses a ''torii'' made of synthetic material which simulates the look of wood.
''Shiromaruta torii''
The or is a ''shinmei torii'' made with logs from which bark has been removed. This type of ''torii'' is present at the tombs of all Emperors of Japan.
''Mihashira torii''
The (see illustration above) is a type of ''torii'' which appears to be formed from three individual ''torii'' (see gallery). It is thought by some to have been built by early Japanese Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
to represent the Holy Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the F ...
.[mihashira torii 三柱鳥居]
" JAANUS. Retrieved on September 4, 2018.
''Myōjin'' family
The ''Myōjin torii'' and its variants are characterized by curved lintels.
File:Myoujin torii.svg, ''Myōjin torii'' – ''kasagi'' and ''shimaki'' are curved upwards.
File:Nakayama Torii.svg, ''Nakayama torii'' – a ''myōjin torii'', but the ''nuki'' does not protrude from the pillars.
File:Inari - daiwa torii.svg, ''Daiwa'' or ''Inari torii'' – A ''myōjin torii'' with rings at the top of the pillars.
File:Ryoubu Torii.svg, ''Ryōbu torii'' – a ''daiwa torii'' with pillars supported on both sides.
File:Miwa torii.svg, ''Miwa torii'' – a triple ''myōjin torii''.
File:Usa torii.svg, ''Usa torii'' – a ''myōjin torii'' with no ''gakuzuka''.
File:Nune torii.svg, ''Nune torii'' – a ''daiwa torii'' with a small gable above the ''gakuzuka''.
File:Sannou torii.svg, ''Sannō torii'' – a ''myōjin torii'' with a gable above the ''kasagi''.
File:Hizen torii.svg, ''Hizen torii'' – an unusual style with a rounded ''kasagi'' and thick, flared pillars.[This example is the main torii of Kashii Shrine, ]Saga prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Saga Prefecture has a population of 809,248 (1 August 2020) and has a geographic area of 2,440 km2 (942 sq mi). Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasak ...
Photo gallery
File:Entrance to Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine.jpg, ''Myōjin torii''.
File:Hiyoshi-taisha03s4592.jpg, ''Sannō torii''.
File:Hushimi-inari-taisha omotesando.jpg, ''Daiwa torii''. Note the ''nemaki''.
File:Sumiyoshi Taisha3.jpg, The ''Sumiyoshi torii'' has pillars with a square cross-section.
File:Nakayama Jinja 01.JPG, ''Nakayama torii''.
File:Itsukushima torii angle.jpg, ''Ryōbu torii''.
File:Shiraminegu 01.JPG, ''Miwa Torii''.
File:Ushinoo Shrine Hizen Torii in Ogi.jpg, The has a rounded ''kasagi'' and thick flared pillars.
File:Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha daitorii.jpg, Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha
The is a Shintō shrine in the city of Fujinomiya in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Suruga Province, and is the head shrine of the approximately 1300 Asama or Sengen shrines in the country. The shrine has an ...
.
File:Fushimi Inari1.JPG, ''Senbon torii'' at Fushimi Inari-taisha
is the head shrine of the ''kami'' Inari, located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain also named Inari which is above sea level, and includes trails up the mountain to many smaller shrines ...
.
''Myōjin torii''
The , by far the most common ''torii'' style, are characterized by curved upper lintels (''kasagi'' and ''shimaki''). Both curve slightly upwards. Kusabi are present. A ''myōjin torii'' can be made of wood, stone, concrete or other materials and be vermilion or unpainted.
''Nakayama torii''
The style, which takes its name from Nakayama Jinja in Okayama Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Okayama Prefecture has a population of 1,906,464 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 7,114 Square kilometre, km2 (2,746 sq mi). Okayama Prefectur ...
, is basically a ''myōjin torii'', but the ''nuki'' does not protrude from the pillars and the curve made by the two top lintels is more accentuated than usual. The ''torii'' at Nakayama Shrine that gives the style its name is 9 m tall and was erected in 1791.
''Daiwa / Inari torii''
The (see illustration above) is a ''myōjin torii'' with two rings called ''daiwa'' at the top of the two pillars. The name "Inari torii" comes from the fact that vermilion ''daiwa torii'' tend to be common at Inari shrines, but even at the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine not all ''torii'' are in this style. This style first appeared during the late Heian period.
''Sannō torii''
The (see photo below) is ''myōjin torii'' with a gable over the two top lintels. The best example of this style is found at Hiyoshi Shrine near Lake Biwa.
''Miwa torii''
Also called , or (see illustration above), the is composed of three ''myōjin torii'' without inclination of the pillars. It can be found with or without doors. The most famous one is at Ōmiwa Shrine, in Nara, from which it takes its name.
''Ryōbu torii''
Also called , or , the is a ''daiwa torii'' whose pillars are reinforced on both sides by square posts (see illustration above). The name derives from its long association with Ryōbu Shintō, a current of thought within Shingon Buddhism
Shingon monks at Mount Koya
is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan and one of the few surviving Vajrayana lineages in East Asia, originally spread from India to China through traveling monks such as Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra.
K ...
. The famous ''torii'' rising from the water at Itsukushima is a ''ryōbu torii'', and the shrine used to be also a Shingon Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
, so much so that it still has a pagoda
A pagoda is an Asian tiered tower with multiple eaves common to Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most often Buddhist but sometimes Taoist, ...
.
''Hizen torii''
The is an unusual type of torii with a rounded ''kasagi'' and pillars that flare downwards. They are found only in Saga prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. Saga Prefecture has a population of 809,248 (1 August 2020) and has a geographic area of 2,440 km2 (942 sq mi). Saga Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the northeast and Nagasak ...
and the neighboring areas.
Gallery
File:NikkoToriiTablet5127.jpg, A tablet on a ''torii'' at Nikkō Tōshō-gū
is a Tōshō-gū Shinto shrine located in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
Together with Futarasan Shrine and Rinnō-ji, it forms the Shrines and Temples of Nikkō UNESCO World Heritage Site, with 42 structures of the shrine included in t ...
covers the ''gakuzuka''.
File:Pentagonal kasagi.jpg, The typical pentagonal profile of a ''torii's'' ''kasagi''. Note the black ''nemaki''.
File:Yamasa Kamaboko HQ 04.jpg, A row of ''torii''.
File:Nagasaki One Legged Torii C1946.jpg, One-legged torii, Sannō Shrine, Nagasaki, Japan. The other half was toppled in the explosion of the nuclear bomb.
File:Kamakura-gu-torii.jpg, An unusual white and red ''Nakayama torii''.
File:Nunakumajinja05s1980.jpg, A ''shime torii''.
File:Zeniarai Benten Shrine inside.jpg, Rows of tiny votive ''torii'' donated by the faithful.[At Kamakura's Zeniarai Benten Shrine]
File:Sumiyoshi-taisha, Wakamiya-hachimangu.jpg, An unusual at Sumiyoshi Taisha: the ''nuki'' does not protrude and all members are square in section.
File:Christmas lights and Torii, Sendai 2012.JPG, A temporary Torii for new year celebration in a shopping street decorated with Christmas lights.
File:Grand torii of Hakozaki Shrine 2.jpg, An example of a Hizen style gate.
See also
* Hongsalmun
In architecture, a ''hongsalmun'' is a gate for entering a sacred place in Korea. ''Hongsalmun'', also called ''hongjeonmun'' or ''hongmun'', are usually erected to indicate Korean Confucian sites, such as shrines, tombs, and academies such as ' ...
, in Korean architecture with both religious and other usage
* Iljumun
Iljumun is the first gate at the entrance to many Korean Buddhist temples. Called the "One-Pillar Gate", because when viewed from the side the gate appears to be supported by a single pillar.
Description
The Iljumun is one of the three major ty ...
, portal in Korean temple architecture
* Mon (architecture)
is a generic Japanese term for gate often used, either alone or as a suffix, in referring to the many gates used by Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and traditional-style buildings and castles.
Significance
Unlike gates of secular buildings, m ...
* Paifang
A ''paifang'', also known as a ''pailou'', is a traditional style of Chinese architectural arch or gateway structure. Evolved from the Indian subcontinent's ''torana'' through the introduction of Buddhism to China, it has developed many styles ...
, in Chinese temple architecture
* Tam quan
A Tam quan (Chữ Hán: 三關) or Tam môn (Chữ Hán: 三門) is a style of traditional gateway symbolic of Vietnamese Buddhism, it has three aisles (traditionally, the middle aisle is the largest and the two side aisles are smaller) not only ...
, in Vietnamese temple architecture
* Toran, ceremonial Indian door decoration
* Torana
''Torana'' ( sa, तोरण; '' awr-uh-nuh') is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Toranas can also be widely seen in Southeast Asia and ...
, in Hindu-Buddhist Indian-origin also found in Southeast Asia and East Asia
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Gates in Japan
Japanese architectural features
Religious symbols
Shinto architecture
Types of gates