are a type of ''

torii A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. The presence of a ''torii'' at the entrance is usually the simplest ...

'' gate found in Shinto architecture. Like its name implies, it is a triangular structure that appears to be formed from three individual ''torii''. 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 May 31, 2009.

History

While the origins of the ''mihashira torii'' cannot be directly proven, it is sometimes thought to be linked to early Christianity in Japan. The primary historical example of a ''mihashira torii'' is found in the records of Konoshima Shrine 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 ...

. These records states that a triangular ''torii'' was rebuilt in 1716–1736, after a fire. The text hints at a reference to Christianity in the construction of the ''torii'', and says that the three pillars represent the heavens, the earth, and mankind. This is not an interpretation common in

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 ...

beliefs. The shrine record also holds that the ''torii'' symbolizes

faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish ...

, and charity. The Konoshima ''torii'' stands in a pond with a pile of stones in the middle of the structure, supposedly the seat of a

God In monotheism, monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator deity, creator, and principal object of Faith#Religious views, faith.Richard Swinburne, Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Ted Honderich, Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Ox ...

. A private garden in Kyoto also exhibits a ''mihashira torii'', built in a

stream A stream is a continuous body of water, body of surface water Current (stream), flowing within the stream bed, bed and bank (geography), banks of a channel (geography), channel. Depending on its location or certain characteristics, a stream ...

. The Christian owners of the estate claim to be descended from a family of Christians who practiced their religion in secret during a time when Christianity was strictly regulated in Japan. According to them, this type of ''torii'' was used as a symbol for underground Christians, and that it represented the

Images

Image:MimeguriMihasira002.jpg, Mimeguri Shrine Image:Mihasira99144.jpg,

Sakurai, Nara is a city located in Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 58,386, and 24,629 households. The population density is , and the total area is . History Sakurai was briefly the capital of Japan during ...

Image:Mihashiratorii.jpg, A drawing by

Hokusai , known simply as Hokusai, was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker. He is best known for the woodblock printing in Japan, woodblock print series ''Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji'', which includes the ...

References

Japanese architectural features Christian architecture Shinto architecture Garden features Types of gates Christianity in Japan Gates in Japan Torii {{architecturalelement-stub

History

Images

See also

References