torii
Sacred boundary marker
A torii is a traditional Japanese gate marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine.
The structure typically consists of two upright pillars topped by two horizontal crossbars, often painted vermilion.
Torii mark the transition from ordinary space to sacred ground: We passed through the torii and entered the shrine complex.
The plural is torii or toriis.
Point of beginning
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- liminalAt a threshold
- transitionChange from one state
- sacredWorthy of reverence
profane · demarcation · spiritual · sanctity · purification · ritual · passage · consecration
Point of access
- passageSegment of text
- transitionChange from one state
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
- invitationRequest to attend
threshold · path · journey · approach · entrance · marker · boundary · spiritual
Japan's former imperial seat
- NaraFormer Japanese capital
- MeijiJapanese modernization era
- vermilionVivid red-orange pigment
- pilgrimageReligious journey to shrine
Shinto sacred spirits
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- kaguraJapanese sacred shrine dance
- shintaiKami's physical dwelling place
- jinjaShinto place of worship
threshold
Point of beginning
- boundaryLine marking a limit
- liminalAt a threshold
- transitionChange from one state
sacred · profane · demarcation · spiritual · sanctity · purification · ritual · passage · consecration · divinity
gateway
Point of access
- passageSegment of text
- transitionChange from one state
- welcomeHospitable greeting offered
invitation · threshold · path · journey · approach · entrance · marker · boundary · spiritual · ascending
Kyoto
Japan's former imperial seat
pilgrimage · floating · iconic · shrine · pathway · mountain
kami
Shinto sacred spirits
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
- kaguraJapanese sacred shrine dance
- shintaiKami's physical dwelling place
post-and-lintel
Horizontal beam on verticals
- vermilionVivid red-orange pigment
- cypressDurable-wooded coniferous evergreen
- stoneSolid earth fragment
bronze · concrete · wood · lacquer · curved · straight · daimon
- Ise ShrineAmaterasu, sun goddess, imperial regalia, haiden, main hall
- East AsiaChina, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Korea
- JapanTokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Hokkaido
- Japanese culturesamurai, kabuki, sumo, origami, tea ceremony
- Japanese wordsanime, bento, bonsai, futon, geisha
- archesarch, triumphal arch, memorial arch, roman arch, victory arch
toriifence
Boundary structure between properties
wall · barricade · security gate · turnstile · checkpoint
toriichurch door
Building entrance for worship
crucifix · minaret · stupa · church steeple
toriilocked gate
Secured hinged barrier
barrier · blockade · obstruction · dead end
- torii gateJapanese shrine gateway