Torii

Is a Japanese traditional gate. It is commonly set up at the entry of a sanctuary shintoïste, in order to separate the enclosure crowned from the profane environment.

Because of its function of separation symbolic system of the real-world and spiritual world, each torii crossed at the time of the access to a temple must be recrossed in the other direction in order to return in the real-world. It is not rare to see of Japanese circumventing a torii when they do not think of passing by again later by this place.

History

It is thought that the first torii developed with the Japan. Old writings attest of their presence at the 10th century. They were common as of the medium of the Period Heian.

The origin of the torii seems to have to be close to that of the Buddhist Torana , in India and with the Nepal. The use of the torii could be developed gradually. The temples were initially to be delimited by four posts, with each angle; a cord tended between the posts thus marked the limit between the crowned influence of the temple and outside. Two larger posts were then added in the middle of the side lending itself more to the access to the temple; the cord would thus have been raised between these two posts, in order to make it possible to the priests to enter (such examples are still visible today, in particular with the temple of Oomiwa, Préfecture of Nara). The cord was replaced by a wood lintel; to reinforce the structure of the unit, a second lintel was added: one obtains thus basic a shinmei torii . The cord tended between the four posts of angle also evolved/moved to become, more commonly, a fence out of wooden.

Realization

It consists of two supporting two horizontal lintels (one, and one.

The torii are usually carried out in wood , and are painted in orange red. Oldest torii always existing wood is that of the Temple of Kubohachima (in the Préfecture of Yamanashi) going back to 1535, and indicating style ryōbu .

There exist also torii in stone ; this material was usually used for its solidity and its durability. Some torii out of wood could be replaced by torii out of stone. Oldest torii out of stone known is that of the temple of Kimpusenji , Préfecture of Nara. Built in 1455, it is about a torii of the type myôjin .

Certain techniques of construction can consist of a plating out of copper on a framework out of wooden . Nowadays, some torii are even built in reinforced concrete or metal .

Various types of torii

Although there is an quasi-infinity of varieties of torii , distinguished between them by subtle characteristics (even sometimes even by the name of the temple in which they are), all the torii can be classified in two main categories: the right torii ( shinmei torii , 神明鳥居), and the torii bent ( myōjin torii , 明神鳥居).

Each one of these two big classes comprises many alternatives:

  • Torii right ( shinmei torii )

    • Shinmei torii (神明鳥居)
    • Ise torii (伊勢鳥居)
    • Kasuga torii (春日鳥居)
    • Hachiman torii (八幡鳥居)
    • Kashima torii (鹿島鳥居)
    • Kuroki torii (黒木鳥居)

  • Torii bent ( myōjin torii )

    • Inari torii (稲荷鳥居)
    • Sannō torii (山王鳥居)
    • Miwa torii (三輪鳥居)
    • Ryōbu torii (両部鳥居)
    • Mihashira torii (三柱鳥居)
    • Mitsuhashira torii (三柱鳥居)

Random links:Centro de operaciones europeo del espacio | Luc Chatel | Z (Zappa) | BB 1500 | Tiny Caroline | Christian Bucchi | Ville_du_Colorado,_le_Texas