Torii of Itsukushima.png
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

A is a traditional Japanese 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; 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 in Yamagata Prefecture. The oldest existing wooden ''torii'' is a ''ryōbu torii'' (see description below) at Kubō Hachiman Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture 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 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'' of fertility and industry, typically have many ''torii'' because those who have been successful in business often donate ''torii'' in gratitude. Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto has thousands of such ''torii'', each bearing the donor's name.


Etymology

The ''torii'', a gateway erected on the approach to every Shinto shrine, may be derived from the Indian word '' torana''. 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'' gateways, Japanese ''torii'' gateways, Korean '' hongsalmun'' gateways, Vietnam '' Tam quan'' 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 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'') 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 ''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's Shitennō-ji, 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 ''(" Chinjusha"), and in that case a ''torii'' marks the shrine's entrance.
Benzaiten Benzaiten (''shinjitai'': 弁才天 or 弁財天; ''kyūjitai'': 辯才天, 辨才天, or 辨財天, lit. "goddess of eloquence"), also simply known as Benten (''shinjitai'': 弁天; ''kyūjitai'': 辯天 / 辨天), is a Japanese Buddhist god ...
is a syncretic 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 god ...
, who unites elements of both Shinto and Buddhism. 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 (1868–1912) ''torii'' were routinely adorned with plaques carrying Buddhist sutras. '' Yamabushi'', 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,
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, Korea, and within Nicobarese and Shompen villages—historians believe they may be an imported tradition. They may, for example, have originated in India from the '' torana'' gates in the monastery of Sanchi in central India. According to this theory, the ''torana'' was adopted by Shingon Buddhism founder Kūkai, 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, Thailand, a Brahmin structure called Sao Ching Cha strongly resembles a ''torii''. Functionally, however, it is very different as it is used as a
swing Swing or swinging may refer to: Apparatus * Swing (seat), a hanging seat that swings back and forth * Pendulum, an object that swings * Russian swing, a swing-like circus apparatus * Sex swing, a type of harness for sexual intercourse * Swing rid ...
. 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'' 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 Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words and ...
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 poles called '' jangseung'', they are talismans 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 cultures in China, Mongolia and Siberia. 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 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 and
Kofun period The is an era in the history of Japan from about 300 to 538 AD (the date of the introduction of Buddhism), following the Yayoi period. The Kofun and the subsequent Asuka periods are sometimes collectively called the Yamato period. This period is ...
s 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 reas ...
's '' haiden'' 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 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 reas ...
'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 are lengths of laid rice straw or hemp rope used for ritual purification in the Shinto religion. vary in diameter from a few centimetres to several metres, and are often seen festooned with —traditional paper streamers. A space bound by ty ...
'' 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 is an open-air museum of close to 30 old farmhouses illustrating the traditional architectural styles of the mountainous regions of Japan. Of particular interest are the thatched and shingled roofs, such as the ''gasshō-zukuri''-styled building ...
.


''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. 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 in Mie Prefecture. 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'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, 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 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 with ...
in Ibaraki Prefecture.


''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 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 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


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.


''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 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 ...
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 is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture Japan. This shrine is one of the Twenty-Two Shrines. Known before World War II as or Hie jinja, "Hiyoshi" is now the preferred spelling. It was also known as the . The head shri ...
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. 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.


''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 and the neighboring areas.


Gallery

File:NikkoToriiTablet5127.jpg, A tablet on a ''torii'' at Nikkō Tōshō-gū 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 The , located about 800 metres south-east of the atomic bomb hypocentre in Nagasaki, is noted for its one-legged stone ''torii'' at the shrine entrance. Torii The well-known was one of the unanticipated results of the atomic bomb blast on Augus ...
, 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 , popularly known simply as Zeniarai Benten, is a Shinto shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. In spite of its small size, it is the second most popular spot in Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture after Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū. Zenia ...
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 Korean architecture with both religious and other usage * Iljumun, portal in Korean temple architecture * Mon (architecture) * Paifang, in Chinese temple architecture * Tam quan, in Vietnamese temple architecture * Toran, ceremonial Indian door decoration * Torana, 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