Cleaning the torii (II)

Nice series, what is this structure used for? Is it just some religious symbol, or did they land boats here?

Marco,

All shrines have a torii gate (actually torii means gate in Japanese) at their entrance. Older (and smaller) shrines have wooden ones (including this one) which may be a natural wood, or painted a bright orangey-red colour (like this one), large ones in cities are made of cement. From what I understand it's considered good luck to pass through the gate on the way to the shrine. It's also considered good luck to throw a stone up onto the gate (as long as it stays of course!). I think you can see those stones better in the other photo. This particular gate is for Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, about 40km away from Hiroshima city. The large red torii, floating in the sea, is considered one of the three most beautiful sites in Japan. In August they hold huge fireworks here on the water that explode both behind and above the gate -- it's easily the best fireworks display I have ever seen in the world.

Anyway, in the days before ferries, I suppose one would take their boat to pass through the gate, now no one really does other than the occasional kayaker when the tide is in. When the tide goes out many people descend to the mud flats to pick whatever sealife they can find, or pass through the gate if they can. Now most people just catch the ferry over -- it's just a ten-minute walk from the ferry pier to the shrine.

Just as an interesting side note, the posts just rest on the floor bed of the sea -- they are not dug in or cemented, or in any other way secured. It's the weight of the entire structure that keeps it in place.

mooseontheloose said:

Just as an interesting side note, the posts just rest on the floor bed of the sea -- they are not dug in or cemented, or in any other way secured. It's the weight of the entire structure that keeps it in place.

Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining. That is amazing considering the strength of the water flow during tides and storms. I guess this is a secluded bay.

Marco B said:

mooseontheloose said:

Just as an interesting side note, the posts just rest on the floor bed of the sea -- they are not dug in or cemented, or in any other way secured. It's the weight of the entire structure that keeps it in place.

Click to expand...

Thanks for explaining. That is amazing considering the strength of the water flow during tides and storms. I guess this is a secluded bay.

Click to expand...

Actually, I think the gate (and shrine) was damaged in a typhoon around 10 years ago but I'm not sure to what extent. The waters around here are generally pretty calm and sheltered (used for oyster farms, another specialty of the island).