Why is Fushimi Inari shrine famous?
Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers, resulting in many fox statues across the shrine grounds.
What do torii gates symbolize?
torii, symbolic gateway marking the entrance to the sacred precincts of a Shintō shrine in Japan. The torii, often painted bright red, demarcates the boundary between the sacred space of the shrine and ordinary space. Torii also identify other sacred spots, such as a mountain or rock.
What wood are torii gates made of?
cypress wood
At Shinto shrines in Japan, the torii demarcates the dividing line between profane and sacred spaces. At the Meiji Jingu Shrine, there are two immense wooden torii gates — the largest in Japan — which are made of cypress wood that is over 1600 years old.
Why are torii gates red?
Originally Torii gates were white, but they are traditionally painted red because in Japan the colour red symbolises vitality and protection against evil. It is also said that because red paint contains mercury, it allows the gates to be preserved for longer – practical as well as spiritual.
What does the word Shinto mean in English?
the way of the kami
The term Shinto is often translated into English as “the way of the kami”, although its meaning has varied throughout Japanese history.
What does Shinto stand for?
the way of the gods
Shinto (“the way of the gods”) is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people and as old as Japan itself. It remains Japan’s major religion alongside Buddhism.