Torii
A Torii (Japanese: 鳥居, [to.ɾi.i]) is a traditional Japanese gate most often found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine. It symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred and serves as a place where kami are welcomed and believed to pass through.
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 and on Google Maps.
The first appearance of Torii gates in Japan can be reliably traced back to at least the mid-Heian period; they are referenced in a text written in 922. The oldest existing stone Torii was constructed in the 12th century and belongs to a Hachiman shrine in Yamagata Prefecture. The oldest extant wooden Torii is a ryōbu Torii located at Kubō Hachiman Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture, built in 1535.
Torii gates were traditionally made from wood or stone, but today, they can also be constructed from reinforced concrete, stainless steel, or other materials. They are usually either unpainted or painted vermilion with a black upper lintel. Shrines of Inari, the kami of fertility and industry, typically feature many Torii because those who have succeeded in business often donate them in gratitude. Fushimi Inari-taisha in Kyoto has thousands of these Torii, each displaying the donor's name.
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 flanked by one or more Torii, making them the easiest way to distinguish a shrine from a Buddhist temple. If the sandō passes under multiple Torii, the outermost one is called ichi no Torii (一の鳥居, first Torii). The subsequent ones, closer to the shrine, are typically referred to as ni no Torii (二の鳥居, second Torii) and san no Torii (三の鳥居, third Torii). Additional Torii can be found further into the shrine, representing increasing levels of holiness as one approaches the inner sanctuary (honden), the core of the shrine. Additionally, due to the strong relationship between Shinto shrines and the Japanese Imperial family, a Torii also stands 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 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 feature one or more Shinto shrines dedicated to their tutelary kami ("Chinjusha"), with a Torii marking the shrine's entrance. Benzaiten is a syncretic goddess derived from the Indian divinity Sarasvati, embodying 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, a Torii stands in front of the hall. The goddess herself is sometimes depicted with a Torii on her head. Finally, until the Meiji period (1868–1912), Torii were routinely adorned with plaques carrying Buddhist sutras.
Yamabushi, the Japanese mountain ascetic hermits with a long history as mighty warriors endowed with supernatural powers, sometimes use a Torii as their symbol.
The Torii is also occasionally used as a symbol of Japan in non-religious contexts. For instance, it represents the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment, the 187th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, and other U.S. forces in Japan. Additionally, it serves as a fixture at the entrance of some Japantown communities, such as Liberdade in São Paulo.
Origins
The origins of the Torii are unknown, and several different theories exist on the subject, none of which have gained universal acceptance. Because the use of symbolic gates is widespread in Asia—such structures can be found, for example, in India, China, Thailand, Korea, as well as in Nicobarese and Shompen villages—many historians believe they may be an imported tradition.
They may, for instance, 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 Kūkai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, who used it to mark the sacred space for the homa ceremony. This hypothesis arose in the 19th and 20th centuries due to similarities in structure and name between the two gates. Although linguistic and historical objections have emerged, 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. This structure was built in 1784 in front of the Devasathan shrine by King Rama I. During the reign of Rama II, the swing ceremony was discontinued because the swing had become structurally damaged by lightning.
Other theories suggest that Torii may be connected to China's pailou. However, these structures can take on a wide variety of forms, only some of which somewhat resemble a Torii. The same applies to Korea's "hongsal-mun." Unlike its Chinese counterpart, the hongsal-mun does not differ significantly in design and is always painted red, with "arrowsticks" located on top of the structure (hence the name).
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Torii ]
A Personal Note from Robin
The Wikipedia article has many examples of Torii images and construction methods.
External links
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