Some examples of Shinto architecture
Shinto architecture is the architecture of Japanese Shinto shrines.
With a few exceptions like Ise Grand Shrine and Izumo Taisha Shinto shrines before Buddhism were mostly temporary structures erected to a particular purpose. Buddhism brought to Japan the idea of permanent shrines and the presence of verandas, stone lanterns, and elaborate gates are some which are used both in a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple.
The composition of a Shinto shrine is extremely variable, and none of its possible features are necessarily present. Even the or sanctuary, the part which houses the and which is the centerpiece of a shrine, can be missing. However, since its grounds are sacred, they usually are surrounded by a fence made of stone or wood called , while access is made possible by an approach called . The entrances themselves are straddled by gates called , which are therefore the simplest way to identify a Shinto shrine.
A shrine may include within its grounds several structures, each destined to a different purpose. Among them are the or sanctuary, where the are enshrined, the , or hall of offerings, where offers and prayers are presented, and the or hall of worship, where there may be seats for worshipers. The honden is the building that contains the , literally, "the sacred body of the ". Of these, only the is open to the laity. The is located behind the and is usually much smaller and unadorned. Other notable shrine features are the , the fountain where visitors cleanse their hands and mouth and the (), the office that supervises the shrine. Shrines can be very large, as for example Ise Shrine, or as small as a beehive, as in the case of the , small shrines frequently found on road sides.
Before the forced separation of Shinto and Buddhism (), it was not uncommon for a Buddhist temple to be built inside or next to a shrine or to the contrary for a shrine to include Buddhist subtemples (). If a shrine was also a Buddhist temple, it was called a . At the same time, temples in the entire country adopted tutelary ( and built temple shrines called to house them. After the forcible separation of Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines () ordered by the new government in the Meiji period, the connection between the two religions was officially severed, but continued nonetheless in practice.
The origin of shrines
The practice of marking sacred areas began in Japan as early as the Yayoi period (from about 500 BC to 300 AD) originating from primal Shinto tenets. Features in the landscape such as rocks, waterfalls, islands, and especially mountains, were places believed to be capable of attracting , and subsequently were worshiped as . Originally, sacred places may have been simply marked with a surrounding fence and an entrance gate or . Later, temporary buildings similar to present day portable shrines were constructed to welcome the gods to the sacred place. Over time the temporary structures evolved into permanent structures that were dedicated to the gods. Ancient shrines were constructed according to the style of dwellings (Izumo Taisha) or storehouses (Ise Grand Shrine). The buildings had gabled roofs, raised floors, plank walls, and were thatched with reed or covered with hinoki cypress bark. Such early shrines did not include a space for worship. Three important forms of ancient shrine architectural styles exist: , , and . They are exemplified by Izumo Taisha, Nishina Shinmei Shrine and Sumiyoshi Taisha respectively and date to before 552. According to the tradition of , the buildings or shrines were faithfully rebuilt at regular intervals adhering to the original design. In this manner, ancient styles have been replicated through the centuries to the present day.
Common features
The following is a diagram illustrating the most important elements of a Shinto shrine: – Shinto gate Stone stairs – the approach to the shrine or – fountain to cleanse one's hands and face – decorative stone lanterns – building dedicated to or the sacred dance – the shrine's administrative office – wooden plaques bearing prayers or wishes / – small auxiliary shrines – the so-called "lion dogs", guardians of the shrine – oratory – fence surrounding the – main hall, enshrining the . On the roof of the and are visible (forked roof finials) and (short horizontal logs), both common shrine ornamentations.
Gate ()