Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Torii

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French version

Torii

鳥居
alternative words: Torii gate, Shrine gate, Shinto gate, Torii shinto gate, Torii portal, Shrine portal, Shinto portal
keywords: architecture , shintoism
related topics: Shintoism , Yayoi period , Shimenawa
explanation: Portal to enter a shinto sanctuary. 2 horizontal bars are supported by 2 vertical sticks (it looks like rugby porch but the vertical sticks don't surpass the horizontal ones). The topmost bar is called Kasagi while the 2d bar little below is called Nuki where man hangs sometimes shinto decoration such as straw festoon (shimenawa). Torii means "bird sitting" because birds are frequently sitting there. But birds may represent also a totem symbol, if torii is a relic of Yayoi village's entry.