Topic: The Origins and Preservation of Torii Shrine Gates in Japan and Its Spiritual Relevance. Lecturer: Puan Yati
Research Question(s):
What were the origins of the Torii Shrine Gates in Japan and its structural variations through time?
Has the purpose of existence of the Torii Shrine Gates in Japan changed from past to present or has its functionality maintained the same?
Are there similar structures alike throughout South East Asia and do they share the same structural elements and public purpose?
Do the Variations of form in the Torii Gate structure represent any form of spiritual relevance or belief?
Will the Torii Gates in Japan remained preserved in the future? (form and purpose)
Outline a summary of the topic:
The Torii Gates of Japanese shrines come from an undetermined background as to if its structural relevance was adopted from other countries and civilizations or if it was a spiritual monument completely of Japanese origin. The use of symbolic gates structurally similar to the Torii gates can be found throughout Asia and is usually related to the spiritual world. The Torii gates origins are closely related to the teachings of Buddhism which originated in India which also has a similarly organized monument known as the Torana gates. Most of the early Torii gates were made from wood or stone which are natural elements but today reinforced concrete, copper, stainless steel or other material are widely used in its construction. The Torii is seen by the Shinto as the Spiritual border between our world and the spirit world thus it is used as a medium of communication between an individual and a spirit.
The function of the Torii gates has been preserved since the beginning of its construction to be the entrance mark to a sacred space. Since the Torii gates mark the presence of a holy space and are preserved by the Japanese till this day.
There are over thousands of Torii gates in the whole of Japan each bearing the name of its donor in appreciation of the spirits. The style of the Torii gates vary as time passed and this can also be researched to whether the positioning of vertical and horizontal alignments represent different properties in the gates.
Picken, Stuart (November 22, 1994). Essentials of Shinto: An Analytical Guide to Principal Teachings (Resources in Asian Philosophy and Religion). Greenwood. pp. 148–160.
Hamashima, Masashi (1999) (english version). Jisha Kenchiku no Kanshō Kiso Chishiki. Tokyo: Shibundō. pp. 88.
Student name and ID: Kieran bin Idris 1001P76791
ReplyDeleteTopic: The Origins and Preservation of Torii Shrine Gates in Japan and Its Spiritual Relevance.
Lecturer: Puan Yati
Research Question(s):
What were the origins of the Torii Shrine Gates in Japan and its structural variations through time?
Has the purpose of existence of the Torii Shrine Gates in Japan changed from past to present or has its functionality maintained the same?
Are there similar structures alike throughout South East Asia and do they share the same structural elements and public purpose?
Do the Variations of form in the Torii Gate structure represent any form of spiritual relevance or belief?
Will the Torii Gates in Japan remained preserved in the future? (form and purpose)
Outline a summary of the topic:
The Torii Gates of Japanese shrines come from an undetermined background as to if its structural relevance was adopted from other countries and civilizations or if it was a spiritual monument completely of Japanese origin. The use of symbolic gates structurally similar to the Torii gates can be found throughout Asia and is usually related to the spiritual world. The Torii gates origins are closely related to the teachings of Buddhism which originated in India which also has a similarly organized monument known as the Torana gates.
Most of the early Torii gates were made from wood or stone which are natural elements but today reinforced concrete, copper, stainless steel or other material are widely used in its construction. The Torii is seen by the Shinto as the Spiritual border between our world and the spirit world thus it is used as a medium of communication between an individual and a spirit.
The function of the Torii gates has been preserved since the beginning of its construction to be the entrance mark to a sacred space. Since the Torii gates mark the presence of a holy space and are preserved by the Japanese till this day.
There are over thousands of Torii gates in the whole of Japan each bearing the name of its donor in appreciation of the spirits. The style of the Torii gates vary as time passed and this can also be researched to whether the positioning of vertical and horizontal alignments represent different properties in the gates.
Annotated Bibliography
http://mmjarboe.com/historical.html
Picken, Stuart (November 22, 1994). Essentials of Shinto: An Analytical Guide to Principal Teachings (Resources in Asian Philosophy and Religion). Greenwood. pp. 148–160.
Hamashima, Masashi (1999) (english version). Jisha Kenchiku no Kanshō Kiso Chishiki. Tokyo: Shibundō. pp. 88.
japandave.com/2010/04/all-about-torii-gates/
Good Work Kieran ;)
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