This is a very interesting episode of Japanology in which Peter Barakan walks round Japan with Prof. Fujimoto Yorio, and has a look at the various types, styles and positioning of the Torii outside Shinto shrines.
Torii are gateways that set apart a sacred space, usually a temple, or revered place in nature – be it a mountain, a waterfall or an island in the sea – and serve to demark and protect that area from evil forces.
Although the makers of the film don’t seem to know it, these Torii (Sanskrit: Toraṇa) are imported through Buddhism, which had Toraṇas to set off its sacred spaces, like stūpas, and also acting as the gateways to towns and cities.
It seem now, though, in Japan anyway they are associated with Shinto Deva worship. They can be found everywhere, from the entrances to temples, to marking wayside shrines, to positioning in the seas, where fisherman pray before venturing out.
They can also be made of many materials, but principally, wood, then stone, and lately metal. There maybe just one before a temple, or three, or indeed scores leading into a temple. Overall a good presentation that let’s us see some of the most famous architectural features of Japan.
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to see an album of screenshots click here