Torii 192314 225971226 2008-07-16T07:22:56Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/59.101.217.52|59.101.217.52]] to version by Howcheng. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (441355) (Bot) {{otheruses}} {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} [[Image:Itsukushima torii distance.jpg|thumbnail|A famous "floating" torii at [[Itsukushima Shrine]]]] [[Image:KyotoFushimiInariLarge.jpg|thumbnail |Multiple torii at [[Fushimi Inari-taisha]], Kyoto]] [[Image:Inscriptions on torii, Fushimi Inari shrine, Kyoto.jpg|thumb|Inscriptions on torii]] A {{nihongo|'''torii'''|鳥居}} is a traditional [[Japan]]ese [[gate]] commonly found at the entry to a [[Jinja (shrine)|Shinto shrine]], although it can be found at [[Buddhism in Japan|Buddhist]] temples as well. It has two upright supports and two crossbars on the top, and is frequently painted [[vermilion]]. Some torii have tablets with writing mounted between the crossbars. Traditionally, torii are made of wood or stone. In recent times, makers have started to use steel and even stainless steel. Torii mark the transition from the sacred (the shrine) to the profane (the normal world) (see [[Sacred-profane dichotomy]]). [[Inari (god)|Inari]] shrines typically have many torii. A person who has been successful in business often donates a torii in gratitude. The [[Fushimi Inari|Fushimi Inari shrine]] in [[Kyoto, Kyoto|Kyoto]] has thousands of such torii. The origin of the word "torii" is not known. One theory is that it was designed for birds to rest, as hinted by the [[kanji]], which may be derived from 鶏居 meaning 'chicken perch'. This is because in [[Shinto]], birds are considered messengers of the [[kami|gods]]. A second theory is that it is derived from the term ''tōri-iru'' (通り入る: pass through and enter). It is unknown whether torii are indigenous to Japan or if they were imported from somewhere else like [[Torana]] of [[India]]. <ref>[[Heibonsha World Encyclopedia]] (1985)「その起源や語源については、古来さまざまに論じられてきたが、定説はない。古代インドの塔をかこむ垣の門をトラーナと呼ぶので、形や音が似ているところから、それが原型だとの説がある。」</ref> ==Purpose of torii at Shinto shrines== [[Image:Torii.svg|thumb|left|130px| A Torii.]] Torii mark the entrance to sacred space in Japan. Passing underneath a torii on the way to visit a shrine is, along with washing one's hands and mouth with water, an act of sanctification and purification before approaching the [[kami]] to pray. For this reason, people who are in a state of uncleanliness are not permitted to approach a Shinto shrine for prayer as their uncleanliness would defile the grounds. Examples of uncleanliness in the Shinto tradition include a woman who is [[menstruating]] or anybody who has lost a relative in the past year{{Fact|date=March 2008}}. When a Japanese person suffers a death in the family, he or she will go to [[Buddhist temple]]s instead of a [[Shinto shrine]] to offer prayers for 1 year, including for the essential first visit of the new year, ''Hatsumoude''. {{Fact|date=March 2007}} ==Other uses== Similar structures can be found in [[Tai peoples|Tai]] societies, and also exist within [[Nicobarese]] and [[Shompen]] villages. Compare also to [[torana]], in [[Hindu]] and [[Buddhist]] architecture ([[India]], [[Nepal]]). The torii is also the symbol of the American [[187th_Infantry_Regiment_%28United_States%29|187st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division]].<ref>http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/10/mil-031006-afps01.htm</ref> ==See also== {{commonscat|Torii}} * [[Paifang]] * [[The Gates]] == External links == *[http://english.tsukudo.jp/guide-gate.html Myojin Torii] {{en icon}} ==References== <references/> *{{cite web | url=http://mmjarboe.com/historical.html | title=Historical Items about Japan | publisher=Michelle Jarboe| date=2007-05-11 | accessdate=2007-06-18}} *{{cite web | url=http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=280 | title=Torii | work=Encyclopedia of Shinto | publisher=Kokugakuin University | date=2005-06-02 | accessdate=2006-10-10}} *{{cite web | url=http://www.nyc24.org/2005/issue3/story3/torii.html | title=Torii-Gate | work=NYC24| publisher= Jim Higdon | date=2005| accessdate=2007-06-18}} *{{cite web | url=http://humwww.ucsc.edu/torii_gate/ | title=Torii Gate | work=Humanities Department| publisher= University of California Santa Cruz |date= March 2006 | accessdate=2007-06-18}} [[Category:Japanese architecture]] [[Category:Japanese religions terms]] [[Category:Shinto]] [[Category:Type of gate]] [[ar:توري]] [[cs:Torii]] [[de:Torii]] [[et:Torii]] [[el:Tοριι]] [[es:Torii]] [[eo:Torijo]] [[fa:تریی]] [[fr:Torii]] [[id:Torii]] [[it:Torii]] [[he:טוריאי]] [[hu:Torí]] [[nl:Torii]] [[ja:鳥居]] [[pl:Torii]] [[pt:Torii]] [[ru:Тории]] [[fi:Torii]] [[sv:Torii]] [[ta:தொரீ]] [[th:โทริอิ]] [[uk:Торії]] [[zh:鳥居]]