The Critical Method: The Torri Gate
The Critical Method: The Torri Gate (Itsukushima Shrine)
Description
Through history, it is known that Japanese design contains many elements that are sacred to Japanese culture. Design within the Japanese culture is very much dependent upon religion – Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Each religion is known for worshiping different icons which leads to the varying design determinants.
Found in Japan is an architectural feature called the Torri Gate. This gate has been known to contain Japanese history beyond 1400 years, some even say the torii has existed some time before 1168. The artist/creator of the Torii Gate is unknown since the architectural feature is such a deep-rooted motif that has been around for centuries. There is no particular …show more content…
Symbolically, this particular functional item is meant to mark the boundary amid the sanctified world of a shrine against the sacrilegious world outside. In other words, these gates are commonly placed at the entrance of a shrine in order to distinguish the dissimilarity between the outside world and the religious world. Furthermore, after additional research, there may be multiple symbolic meanings behind this particular architectural feature. The idea that the torii is a mark between sacred and secular, engages with another idea that the torii was specifically build for birds to rest on. According to a scholarly article produced by Donna Maloney, “…in the Shinto religion, birds are considered messengers of the gods. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine” (EBSCO). This idea that birds are heralds of the gods reiterates the fact that the torii is a religious piece of …show more content…
This specific tree is used for the main pillar/column. The smaller pillars consist of naturally developed cedar while the roof is made from cypress bark thatching (a trademark among many Japanese temples). Visually, there the four smaller pillars/columns which support the two main pillars/columns. These two main columns then support the roof structure of the gate. The average torii gate is about 55 foot tall and weighs anywhere from 60 tons to 100 tons. However, the size and weight of torii gates vary depending upon the materials used and the intended effect/design. Other common materials consist of stone and steel, thus, some torii’s are massive while other torii’s are smaller (Avery
Description
Through history, it is known that Japanese design contains many elements that are sacred to Japanese culture. Design within the Japanese culture is very much dependent upon religion – Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto. Each religion is known for worshiping different icons which leads to the varying design determinants.
Found in Japan is an architectural feature called the Torri Gate. This gate has been known to contain Japanese history beyond 1400 years, some even say the torii has existed some time before 1168. The artist/creator of the Torii Gate is unknown since the architectural feature is such a deep-rooted motif that has been around for centuries. There is no particular …show more content…
Symbolically, this particular functional item is meant to mark the boundary amid the sanctified world of a shrine against the sacrilegious world outside. In other words, these gates are commonly placed at the entrance of a shrine in order to distinguish the dissimilarity between the outside world and the religious world. Furthermore, after additional research, there may be multiple symbolic meanings behind this particular architectural feature. The idea that the torii is a mark between sacred and secular, engages with another idea that the torii was specifically build for birds to rest on. According to a scholarly article produced by Donna Maloney, “…in the Shinto religion, birds are considered messengers of the gods. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine” (EBSCO). This idea that birds are heralds of the gods reiterates the fact that the torii is a religious piece of …show more content…
This specific tree is used for the main pillar/column. The smaller pillars consist of naturally developed cedar while the roof is made from cypress bark thatching (a trademark among many Japanese temples). Visually, there the four smaller pillars/columns which support the two main pillars/columns. These two main columns then support the roof structure of the gate. The average torii gate is about 55 foot tall and weighs anywhere from 60 tons to 100 tons. However, the size and weight of torii gates vary depending upon the materials used and the intended effect/design. Other common materials consist of stone and steel, thus, some torii’s are massive while other torii’s are smaller (Avery