sannou torii　山王鳥居

KEY WORD :　architecture / shrines

Also called hie torii 日吉鳥居, sougou torii 総合鳥居, hafu torii 破風鳥居 or gasshou torii 合掌鳥居. A wooden entrance gate at a Shinto shrine *torii 鳥居, characterized by a gable shaped structure composed of a central strut and diagonal braces on each side and placed on top of the uppermost lintel *kasagi 笠木. At the peak of the gable is a very short member called a utou 烏頭, torikabuto 鳥兜 or which karasugashira 烏頭 suggests a ridge. These architectural elements have no structural significance but may symbolize a mountain deity. Two characters may also be hidden within its bargeboard-like gable shape. If the upper ends of the peak were to be turned to an upright position, the character for mountain, yama/san 山 would be discernible. If the same members were raised to a horizontal position the character for king, ou 王 would be represented. Thus, the connotation of a mountain king could be extended to mean a mountain deity. It is from these hidden characters that the name, sannou 山王 is derived. Furthermore, sanno torii is located at the foot of Mt. Hiei 比叡. Example: Hie Taisha 日吉大社, both the East and West areas, Shiga prefecture.

a) *shimaki 島木 d) *hafu 破風 g) gakuzuka 額束 j) *hashira 柱 b) *kasagi 笠木 e) utou 烏頭 h) *kusabi 楔 k) *nemaki 根巻 c) *uragou 裏甲 f) munazuka 棟束 i) *nuki 貫

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