Torii
Architecture鳥居 ・ Reading: とりい
Definition
A torii is the gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine, marking the boundary between the everyday world and the sacred grounds. It usually has two upright posts joined by two horizontal beams, and is often painted vermillion.
What it marks
A torii stands at the entrance to a shrine, and sometimes along the approach path. Passing under it signals that you are leaving everyday space and entering the home of the kami. By custom you bow slightly before walking through, and you keep to the side rather than the centre, which is left open for the deity.
What they look like
Most torii share the same basic shape of two uprights crossed by two beams, but the materials vary widely, from weathered wood to bright vermillion lacquer to stone and bronze. Some shrines, such as Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, line their paths with thousands of them.
A quick way to tell shrine from temple
A torii almost always means a shrine rather than a Buddhist temple, so spotting one is the fastest way to tell the two apart at a glance.
Related articles
- A Guide to Shrines and TemplesSpot the difference between Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples with tips on torii, statues, prayer etiquette, and Japan’s blended spirituality.
- How to visite a Shinto Shrine?Master Shinto shrine etiquette: torii bow, temizuya cleansing, walk aside, offer coin, ring bell, 2 bows 2 claps 1 bow, avoid faux pas.
- The Water Purification RitualLearn temizu: the single-ladle ritual before shrines and temples, with steps, meaning, etiquette, modern updates, and where to try it.