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Concept
Shinto architecture
Summary
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 (社務所), 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 .
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