Torii

Torii (Japanese鸟 居) are elements of traditional Japanese architecture. It involves gates made of wood or stone ( rarely also of iron, bronze or concrete), which are often painted vermilion and mark the boundary from the profane to the sacred. They are the most obvious sign of Shinto buildings, but they are also rare in Buddhist temples before.

The characters used mean " bird house". However, it is not clear where the naming comes. These signs could be ateji, so characters that reflect only the phonetic value of a previously existing word with a different meaning.

A single Torii marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine. More Torii mark boundaries of different areas, leading to the holy precincts of the respective shrine. Torii each has two transverse beams: the top ( Kasagi ) resting on the two columns, and the lower ( Nuki ) intersecting both pillars with each other. The most famous Torii located off the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

A stylized Torii is used on Japanese cards as a sign for the location of Shinto shrines.

The second largest Torii of Japan before the Heian jingū in Kyoto

Transition from Torii at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto

Torii at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo