鳥居torii
Quick definition:A torii is a traditional Japanese gate, usually made of two upright posts and two crossbeams, which marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine and the boundary between the ordinary world and a sacred space.
Meaning
A torii is a gate found at the entrance to Shinto shrines, often painted bright red or left as plain wood or stone. It has two pillars with a crossbeam at the top, and many have a second beam below. Visitors pass through it when entering the shrine, bowing slightly as a sign of respect, and some shrines have many torii in a row.
The gate marks the border between everyday space and a sacred one. Passing beneath it is a small ritual, and many people avoid walking in the centre of the path, which is thought to belong to the gods. Torii can be small or enormous, and some stand in the sea or on mountain slopes.
In anime and manga, torii are a familiar sign that a story has reached a shrine or a place connected to spirits. A torii may lead to a supernatural world, hide a magical secret or form the setting for a festival. Fans quickly recognise the gate, and its shape is often used as a symbol of Japan.
Origin:Torii is a Japanese word written with characters meaning bird and reside, and the exact origin of the name is uncertain. Several explanations exist, including a link to perches for sacred birds, but none is firmly established. Such gates have been used at shrines for many centuries, and the word is known abroad through travel, photographs and anime.
Example:A girl climbs a long stone staircase through a forest and passes under a weathered red torii before reaching a small shrine. Behind her, the path seems to fade into mist, and the viewer understands that the shrine is a threshold to something stranger. A bell rings once somewhere far away.
Did you know?The famous floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine, near Hiroshima, stands in the water and seems to float at high tide. It is one of the most photographed sights in Japan, and the shrine is a World Heritage Site.
