Torii

For other uses, see Torii (disambiguation).

A famous "floating" torii at Itsukushima Shrine

Multiple torii at Fushimi Inari-taisha, Kyoto

File:KanazawaStation.jpg

Torii are widespread in Japan, to the extent that modern architecture sometimes emulates their form, such as at Kanazawa Station.

A torii (鳥居) is a traditional Japanese gate commonly found at the entry to a Shinto shrine, although it can be found at Buddhist temples as well. It has two upright supports and two crossbars on the top, and is frequently painted vermilion. Some torii have tablets with writing mounted between the crossbars. Traditionally, torii are made of wood or stone. In recent times, makers have started to use steel and even stainless steel. Torii mark the transition from the sacred (the shrine) to the profane (the normal world) (see Sacred-profane dichotomy).

Inari shrines typically have many torii. A person who has been successful in business often donates a torii in gratitude. The Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto has thousands of such torii.

The origin of the word "torii" is not known. One theory is that it was designed for birds to rest, as hinted by the kanji (鳥 tori: bird; 居 i: place). This is because in Shintoism, birds are considered messengers of the gods. A second theory is that it is derived from the term tōri-iru (通り入る: pass through and enter).

Legend

It is unknown whether torii are indigenous to Japan or if they were imported from somewhere else like Korea or China. However, in an old Japanese legend, the sun goddess Amaterasu became extremely annoyed with her prankster brother Susanoo, so she hid herself in a cave and sealed the entrance with a rock, causing an eclipse. The people were afraid that, if the sun never returned, they would all die. So, at the advice of a wise old man, they built a large bird perch out of wood and placed all the town's cockerels on it. They all started to crow noisily, causing the curious sun goddess to peek out of her cave. The door being open a crack, a large sumo wrestler from the town ran up and pushed the rock away, letting the sun out, and thus the world was saved. That bird perch was the first torii gate. From then on, the torii became a symbol of prosperity and good fortune, and spread all over Japan.

Purpose of torii at Shinto shrines

Torii mark the entrance to sacred space in Japan. Passing underneath a torii on the way to visit a shrine is, along with washing one's hands and mouth with water, an act of sanctification and purification before approaching the kami to pray. For this reason, people who are in a state of uncleanliness are not permitted to approach a Shinto shrine for prayer as their uncleanliness would defile the grounds. Examples of uncleanliness in the Shinto tradition include a woman who is menstruating or anybody who has lost a relative in the past year. When a Japanese person suffers a death in the family, he or she will go to Buddhist temples instead of a Shinto shrine to offer prayers for 1 year, including for the essential first visit of the new year, Hatsumoude.

Other uses

Similar structures can be found in Tai societies, and also exist within Nicobarese and Shompen villages. Compare also to torana, in Hindu and Buddhist architecture (India, Nepal).

The torii is also the symbol of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division which is nicknamed Rakkasans (Japanese for falling umbrellas).

See also

• Paifang
• The Gates
• Tatsu

External links

• Myojin Torii Template:En icon

References

• "Historical Items about Japan". Michelle Jarboe. 2007-05-11. Retrieved 2007-06-18.

• "Torii". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Kokugakuin University. 2005-06-02. Retrieved 2006-10-10.

• "Torii-Gate". NYC24. Jim Higdon. 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-18.

• "Torii Gate". Humanities Department. University of California Santa Cruz. 2006-03-01. Retrieved 2007-06-18.