Shinto architecture

Some examples of Shinto architecture

Shinto architecture is the architecture of Japanese Shinto shrines.

History

Main page: Birth and evolution of shrines

In Japan, the practice of designating sacred areas started in the Yayoi period (500 BC - 300 AD) based on the fundamental beliefs of Shintoism. Land features like mountains, waterfalls, rocks, and islands were considered capable of drawing kami and hence were revered as yorishiro..^[1]

In the beginning, sacred locations were likely marked with only a fence surrounding the area and a torii gate, at the entrance.^[2] Afterwards, temporary structures resembling modern portable shrines were built to receive the deities at the holy site.^[3]

As time passed, the temporary structures used to welcome the gods evolved into permanent structures that were dedicated solely to the gods. Ancient shrines were constructed in different styles such as dwellings (for example, Izumo Taisha)^[1]^[4] or storehouses (for example, Ise Grand Shrine).^[1]^[2]

The ancient shrine buildings had gabled roofs, raised floors, plank walls, and were either thatched with reed or covered with hinoki cypress bark..^[2] In the past, the early shrines didn't have an area for people to worship..^[1] Three important forms of architecture styles exist: taisha-zukuri, shinmei-zukuri, and sumiyoshi-zukuri.^[3]^[5]

Izumo Taisha, Nishina Shinmei Shrine and Sumiyoshi Taisha^[6] have each type respectively and were built at or before 552.^[7]

The tradition of Shikinen sengū-sai states that buildings or shrines are regularly rebuilt according to the original design. This has been done throughout the centuries to preserve ancient styles up to the present day..^{[note 1]}^[4]^[8]^[9]

Common features

The composition of a Shinto shrine

The following is a diagram illustrating the most important elements of a Shinto shrine:

Torii – Shinto gate
Stone stairs
Sandō – the approach to the shrine
Chozuya or Temizuya – fountain to cleanse one's hands and face
Tōrō – decorative stone lanterns
Kagura-den – building dedicated to Nō or the sacred kagura dance
Shamusho – the shrine's administrative office
Ema – wooden plaques bearing prayers or wishes
Setsumatsusha – small auxiliary shrines
Komainu – the so-called "lion dogs", guardians of the shrine
Haiden – oratory
Tamagaki – fence surrounding the honden
Honden – main hall, enshrining the kami.
On the roof of the haiden and honden are visible chigi (forked roof finials) and katsuogi (short horizontal logs), both common shrine ornamentations.

Gallery

A metal torii
A sandō
A temizuya
A komainu
Izumo Taisha's honden
Hanazono Jinja's haiden
Kasuga Taisha's heiden
Hirairi style: entrance on the non-gabled side
The typical shape of the back of a Hiyoshi-zukuri roof
A hokora
Ōtori-zukuri
Ōtori Taisha's honden
Some setsumatsusha
Shinmei-zukuri
Sumiyoshi-zukuri
Taisha-zukuri, Izumo Taisha

Shinto Architecture Media

Sankō-jinja, Tennōji, Ōsaka, Ōsaka, Japan w:ja:三光神社（大阪市天王寺区）末社三社（武内宿禰社・野見宿禰社・主守稲荷社）
Kitano Tenmangu 178737828 b887e31aa2 o
金持神社鳥居
Kamosu jinja
The composition of a Shinto shrine
Senbon Torii at Fushimi Inari-taisha, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
Chōzuya at Nikkō Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Tochigi
The honden at Uda Mikumari Shrine, located in Uda, Nara

Related pages

List of Shinto shrines in Japan
Glossary of Shinto

Notes

↑ Presently only the Ise Grand Shrine is being rebuilt every 20 years.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Young & Young 2007
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Fletcher & Cruickshank 1996
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Nishi & Hozumi 1996
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Kishida 2008
↑ Kishida 2008
↑ Kishida 2008
↑ Kishida 2008
↑ Nishi & Hozumi 1996
↑ Kuroda 2005

Sources

Fletcher, Sir Banister; Cruickshank, Dan (1996) [1896]. Sir Banister Fletcher's a history of architecture (20th illustrated ed.). Architectural Press. ISBN 0-7506-2267-9. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
Kishida, Hideto (2008). Japanese Architecture. READ BOOKS. ISBN 978-1-4437-7281-5. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
Kuroda, Ryūji (2005-06-02). "History and Typology of Shrine Architecture". Encyclopedia of Shinto (β1.3). Tokyo: Kokugakuin University. Retrieved on 16 November 2009.
Nishi, Kazuo; Hozumi, Kazuo (1996) [1983]. What is Japanese architecture? (illustrated ed.). Kodansha International. ISBN 4-7700-1992-0. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
Watanabe, Yasutada (1974). Shinto art: Ise and Izumo shrines. New York, Tokyo: Weatherhill/Heibonsha.
Young, David; Young, Michiko (2007) [2004]. The art of Japanese architecture. Architecture and Interior Design (illustrated, revised ed.). Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8048-3838-2. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

[8] Presently only the Ise Grand Shrine is being rebuilt every 20 years.

[young-p50-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 Young & Young 2007

[fletcher-p724-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Fletcher & Cruickshank 1996

[nishi-p40-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Nishi & Hozumi 1996

[Kishida-p33-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Kishida 2008

[Kishida-p34-5] Kishida 2008

[6] Kishida 2008

[7] Kishida 2008

[nishi-p41-9] Nishi & Hozumi 1996

[kuroda2005-10] Kuroda 2005

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[note 1]

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