shinto? Buddhist?

[aimeekitty]

trying to do some research, behind this gate,... would there be a shrine? (what religion?) or is this just a decorative gate that can be used in front of any residence?

danke! *goes back to storyboarding*

Comments

[lokabrenna.livejournal.com]

It's a Shinto gate. This page, among others, says:

"Torii

A distinctive arch or gateway erected at the entrance to the sacred precincts of a shrine, separating the inner area from the profane world surrounding it. May also be erected along the avenue of approach."

[charmingdetails.livejournal.com]

As the above comment says, the torii is the entrance to a Shinto shrine. It designates holy ground, so I don't believe it could be used for a residence.

:)

[milkpanzer.livejournal.com]

That's a torii and would indicate an entrance to a Shinto shrine. They are made in different colors but I'm not sure if the colors represent the type of temple or not. I believe red torii generally indicate Inari shrines but probably are used for others as well.

Hope this helps! ^^

[swankkat.livejournal.com]

on one of my trips to old religious sites, I also saw torii being used as markers for cemetary plots. The rest of the cemetary plot was buddhist in design, but the torii was obviously shinto. Many are often adorned with paper wards and thick rope.

Also, in Osaka, a giant plain wooden torii marks the entrance to a long street. The street eventually leads to a shrine, but it is lined with many shops and places of exchange. I thought it was interesting. ^^;; Definitely not your typical peaceful entrance into holy ground!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I was wondering about that! because in some of the pictures I've been looking at, they have more plain torii marking the opening of a town (a long street with lots of shops like you said.)
it seems that that sort of layout would work really well for what I want to do.

hrm...! In these types of layouts, is there ever a hotel (type that maybe a traveling daimyo and retainers might stay at) at the end of the street? (or would that be possible?)

thanks for the headsup about MSD FCS too! :D that's awesome to know! I'm really looking forward to going to japan so much!

as to me being MIA, just trying not to sit on the net for HOURS. I'll still be checking email every once and a while. :)

[swankkat.livejournal.com]

It would probably be incorrect to say they could mark just any town entrance, but more like marking the entrance to a holy town -- like Koya-san for example (its a town mostly made up of temples, do a search for it, they have an english site ^^)

anyways, in that kinda of situation, (and like Koya-san, for example), there are no hotels (at least earlier periods), but wealthy nobles were usually able to stay AT the main monastary for as long as they wished -- much like a hotel. It was considered very prestigious, especially if it was at a well known religious site. At the monastary, they are given room and board -- local buddhist cuisine, no meat, but very tasty -- along with entertainment in the form of storytelling by the head priests. Guest rooms were usually lavish, with gold and silk covered sliding doors and fine tatami. The main monastary was usually located at the center of the town, surrounded by lesser temples, but I see no reason why you couldn't place it at the end of the main road. The road at shinsaibashi was just that -- it ended directly into the temple gates, although it wasn't the perfect example since most of the shops are very modern. ANYways, I hope that helps you some! ^^/

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

actually that helps emmensely! I was really hoping to have them stay in something that looked really visually interesting (and also so I could storyboard it to be a centerpeice of the town.)
here's the trick though, is it possible for a monastary, etc, to actually catch on fire?

[swankkat.livejournal.com]

oh yes, very possible! If some careless person happened to leave the braziers in one of the guest rooms unattended... or if the monastary cook left the kitchen... or any NUMBER of things... it would be very easy for it to catch fire! It could pretty much sweep through town, since many buildings were made from paper and wood (still ARE in "traditional" areas!). If you have more questions, just email me, or send me an IM message :3 don't wanna use up all your LJ space XD

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

That would be in front of a Shinto shrine (though the shrine could be out of view if it was up a mountain path). I think they're called "torii" if you want to research that.

Take a look at some of Ukiyo e prints, http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/gallery4.htm

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

awesome!! :D I'm going to attempt to do some more sketches today and tomorrow and hopefully I can lay something out that looks and feels like a proper town in these storyboards! ^_^

Thanks so much! :D

[little-teacup.livejournal.com]

When I went to Japan I did visit an old inn where the emperor's guests would stay at, back when Kyoto used to be the capital.

It was very neat, the place had booby traps and was designed in such a way to protect the guests in there, in case an ambush would overtake them or something. The halls were very narrow to avoid sword fights, and the ceilings were low and awkward. They even had trick stairs!

[uguisubari.livejournal.com]

They are usualy red, the colour which is supposed to keep off demons. The name, afaik, roughly translates to "for birds to sit on" and it is considered a lucky omen if they do.

[kabukiboy.livejournal.com]

there was a time when there were so many fires in kyoto that clothing style changed; as when women were running from the fires their clothes would become undone and fall off... Tori aren't always "relgious" however...they symbolize a doorway...the of leaving one area and entering of another...tho usually more often than not it IS used when entering a holy site...seaperating the mudane world from this 'sacred' area...in shinto...even a garden can be a sacred area not just a temple or shrine, marked by this doorway...(you have to seaperate the western idea of worship PLACES and idols)...tori are also placed in such a way to block bad spirits which can only move diagonally

[leahkitty.livejournal.com]

I got a great book as a wedding present. It has Japanese clothing, religions, gardens, archetecture (new and old) - with cutaway cross sections and floor plans, sculptures, pictures and maps of Japan with what to do etc. I know you're interested in going to Japan, so this would be great for that too. The survival guide is also esp useful.


DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Japan 2002. Great book for both artistic reasons and for travel purposes.

[mattbayne.livejournal.com]

That's about what I had thought, Aimee. That it's not ALWAYS for a religious shrine. Like there's one or two that are actually built in ocean harbors, like this one, and are for welcoming kami from the ocean into the land. I think.

Some really good general info on Japanese shrines: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2059.html

The torii is so iconic that you've probably seen manga where it's used in a way almost totally disassociated from it's orignal shinto meaning. Used just for the pure aesthtics of it. Like over the door to a sushi place or something.

kabukiboy: I didn't know that about only moving diagonally! That is so cool!

[mattbayne.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say, have you seenthe prints by Kawase Hasiu? Just gorgeous. A real blend of japanese and european sensibilities when it comes to composition. Gorgeous! This is the biggest gallery of Hasui stuff I've ever seen O_O

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

funny you should link me to this!

http://www.hanga.com/viewimage.cfm?ID=1213

this was my christmas card from this past year! :D I love Kawase Hasiu's stuff but I'd never seen a whole gallery before!