#kasuga myojin

[crazyfox-archives]

A depiction of Kasuga Myōjin (春日明神), one of the deities of Kasuga Taisha Grand Shrine (春日大社) in Nara, dressed in court robes and sitting in a carriage with his face obscured by clouds, with the corresponding Buddhist deities of the shrine displayed above

Color on silk dating to the Kamakura period (1185-1333), painted by Takashina Takakane (高階隆兼), from the collection of the Fujita Art Museum (藤田美術館) in Osaka

Image from "Shintō: The Sacred Art of Ancient Japan" edited by Victor Harris, published by the British Museum Press. 2001, page 169

[tenjin-no-shinja]

Torii

The Origins of Torii

There are two kinds of Sandō (road that approaches the shrine), a road that comes from a town or city and continues to the shrine, and the road from the entrance of the shrine to the Haiden (Prayer Hall) • Honden (Main Hall). Both are sacred roads in which visitors walk, and mikoshi are carried along the path. Therefore in order to demarcate the sacred land, torii, koma inu, stone lanterns, etc… are placed. Koma inu, and stone lions will be discussed later on, here is where torii are being discussed. In fact the origin of Torii is not clear. From extant examples and paintings in picture scrolls, it is known that a similar type of torii existed in the 12th century, but it is not known when and for what purpose they were built.

Why are there so many different types of Torii?

The present torii gate functions as a symbolic gateway, indicating that the area inside (beyond) the gateway is sacred ground. It also serves as a warning that any disrespectful behavior beyond the gate will result in punishment. Another feature of torii gates is that there are many types. It is said that the shape of the torii may have indicated the type of kami, but this is not certain. The form can be broadly classified into the Shinmei type and the Myojin type. While the Shinmei type is simple, the Myojin type is highly decorative and sometimes painted in vermilion. This may be related to the fact that Myojin-style torii are often erected at shrines of common people’s beliefs, as they have a strong sense of Shinto/Buddhist syncretism.

Parts of a Torii Gate

笠木 Kasagi

Cap Piece that covers the top of a Torii

島木 Shimagi

Long horizontal timber above the columns on a Torii, right below the Kasagi

台輪 Daiwa

The single piece placed where the columns meet the Shimagi, believed to prevent rot from setting in from the top of the pillars

額束 Gakutsuka

The plaque that holds the name of the shrine

楔 Kusabi

Wedges/Lynchpins

貫 Nuki

Lower horizontal timber, traditionally does not pierce the columns, and in Shinmei style torii, is said to be round

柱 Hashira

The two vertical columns leading up to the horizontal bars

藁座 Waraza

Reinforcement for the Daīshi at the bottom of the torii

台石 Daīshi

Stone pedestal at the bottom of torii

亀腹 Kamebara

White plaster bun-shaped mounds used to reinforce support base stones.

Varieties of Torii

神明系 Shinmei Style

Image Sources: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4

黒木鳥居 Kurogi Torii

Made from logs where the outer bark is still attached. Seen at shrines like 野宮神社 Nonomiya Jinja.

鹿島鳥居 Kashima Torii

The lower cross bar is quadrilateral (instead of rounded), and sticks out past the pillars holding the torii up. Seen at shrines like 鹿島神宮 Kashima Jingū.

神明鳥居 Shinmei Torii

The pillars, top crossbar and lower crossbar are all rounded. See at shrines like 神明宮 Shinmeigū.

伊勢鳥居 Ise Torii

The upper crossbar is pentagonal in shape. Seen at shrines like 伊勢神宮内宮・外宮 Ise Jingū Naikū • Gekū and 熱田神宮 Atsuta Jingū

明神系 Myojin Style

Usually these have the cap piece called a Kasagi while Shinmei do not

八幡鳥居 Hachiman Torii

The edge of the top bar is slanted. Seen at shrines like 岩清水八幡宮 Iwashimizu Hachimangū.

台輪（稲荷）鳥居 Daiwa (Inari) Torii

Below the upper crossbar are Daiwa (see above definition). Seen at shrines like 伏見稲荷大社 Fushimi Inari Taisha.

春日鳥居 Kasuga Torii

Less warping of the cap piece and upper crossbar (fairly flat). Seen at shrines like 春日大社 Kasuga Taisha.

両部鳥居 Ryōbu Torii

Has smaller support columns attached to the main pillars. Seen at shrines like 厳島神社 Itsukushima Jinja, and 氣比神宮 Kehi Jingū.

中山鳥居 Nakayama Torii

The same as a Myōjin Torii, except the lower crossbar doesn’t stick out. Seen at shrines like 中山神社 Nakayama Jinja.

Image Sources: 1 , 2

明神鳥居 Myōjin Torii

Both the upper and lower crossbars have warping (meaning they’re more curved). Seen at shrines like 神田明神 Kanda Myōjin.

山王鳥居 Sannō Torii

Above the Kasagi, there is an extra part called the Gasshō, which is a triangular shaped piece. Seen at shrines like 日吉大社 Hiyoshi Taisha.

三輪鳥居 Miwa Torii

To the sides are smaller support torii. Seen at shrines like 大神神社 Ōmiwa Jinja.

Translations of this page

[tanuki-kimono]

Torii (sacred gates found in shinto shrines) variations, a great illustrations by @amei_yade. Shown here are the following styles - but more exist!

Shinmei family (= straight upper lintels)

Shinmei Torii (神明 鳥居)

Ise Torii (伊勢 鳥居)

Kashima Torii (鹿島 鳥居) 

Kasuga Torii (春日 鳥居)

Kuroki Torii (黒木 鳥居)  

Myojin family (= curved upper lintels)

Myoujin Torii  (明神 鳥)

Nakayama Torii (中山 鳥居)

Inari Torii (稲荷 鳥居)

Ryoubu Torii (両部 鳥居)

Miwa Torii (三輪 鳥居) 

Usa Torii (宇佐 鳥居) 

Nune Torii (奴禰 鳥居) 

Sannou Torii  (山王 鳥居)

Karahafu Torii (唐破風 鳥居)