Torii (鸟 居) is a Shinto shrine in the building which is the boundary between the areas of human habitation with the sacred area where we live. In addition, this building serves as the temple gate.
Torii form of two rods parallel bars supported on two vertical poles rods. The building is generally painted in red (orange) lights, and sometimes not painted (original color of building materials).
Although more common at the entrance to a Shinto shrine, torii can also be found in the imperial mausoleum and several Buddhist temples in
Japan. Symbols in a map published by the
Japanese torii marks the location of a Shinto shrine.
The origin of the torii related to an ancient Japanese legend. Amataresu very angry with his brother who likes to interfere. Amataresu hiding in caves in the rock called Ama no Iwato. The entrance to the cave covered with rocks so that a solar eclipse. People become afraid of the sun will not shine anymore. On the advice of a wise, all naganaki tokoyo no tori (cock) were collected and were asked to crow. Amataresu want to peek out because they want to know why the cocks crowing. Rock covering the entrance opening of a little cave. Sumo wrestlers last big push to force the rock until the cave is open. The sun reappeared and the world was saved. Perch trees where the cocks are put in front of the altar is said to be building the first torii.
The building is similar to the torii can also be found in the Tai settlements. Torana buildings in India or Chinese origin are also similar Paifang torii.
In general, torii building consists of two vertical poles supporting rod 2 rods parallel bars at the top of the building. Cross sections can consist of 2 pieces of composite bar called bar shimagi kasagi and bars, while the bottom bar is called nuki. When fitted with a signboard temple (gakuzuka), the nameplate is mounted between the crossbar and the crossbar nuki shimaki.
Judging from its shape, torii broadly divided into two forms: the form and shape shinmei Myojin. Both are forms the basis of various types of torii.
Most of the torii is the contribution of the followers of the temple, so the form torii also depends on the tastes of people who donate. Forms can be torii Kasuga Shrine was founded in Kashima, and has nothing to do with us who was revered.
Torii also used to demonstrate the link between Shinto shrine are similar, such as torii form contained in the Yasukuni Shrine Yasukuni Shrine and various Gokoku found in many places in Japan, while there is a torii in the form of Sanno Hie Shrine, Sanno Shrine, and Hiyoshi Shrine.
Tori is traditionally made of wood or stone. In the current era, torii are also made of metal such as bronze, steel, stainless steel, concrete and iron.
Arita city in Saga prefecture is known as a center of ceramic industry. Toso temple in the town of Arita has a torii of ceramics. Hiko shrine in Yawata (Kyoto Prefecture) We worship the patron of the accident aircraft. In this temple torii constructed from lightweight metal duralumin aircraft materials.
Three beautiful torii
Kane no Torii in Yoshino (Nara Prefecture)
Torii high as 8 m from the Muromachi period in Kimpusen-ji.
Shutan no Ōtorii at Itsukushima Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage)
Located in the middle of the sea in front of the main temple building, has four additional pillar of camphor wood. Torii is now, was completed in 1875, and is the eighth generation of buildings is calculated from the first generation of buildings in the Heian period.
Shitenno-ji in Osaka has a large stone torii is the oldest in Japan.
Another famous Torii
At Fushimi Inari Shrine, there are more than 10,000 buildings torii.
In the Heian Shrine, Kyoto there are 24.4-meter-high torii building which is the tallest building in the Japanese torii.
