In Shinto shrine architecture, a torii traditionally marks the entrance to sacred space.
A torii is a usually two-posted gateway with horizontal beams above it. Passing through one symbolically marks movement from an ordinary area into a kami’s sacred precinct. Shrines may have one torii or a sequence of them, sometimes extending for long distances, as at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.
Torii are commonly made from wood, stone, or metal and are often painted vermilion, although many are unpainted. Their exact origins are uncertain, and scholars have proposed several influences from East and South Asian gateway traditions.
A torii is not the same as a shimenawa, which is a sacred rope, or a haiden, which is a worship hall. Visitors commonly bow once before passing through and avoid walking directly through the center, traditionally associated with the kami.