There are a variety of torii made of unlacquered wood, stone (usually white or grey in color), and even metal. One of the grandest shimenawa belongs to The famous Jakushin-san no Kyushu sacred tree is about 800 years old and measures 17 metres around! MIKO Modern scholarship appears to support Torri Gate - symbolizes the entrance to a sacred place. I like Japanese crafts very much as all items are made with great taste and skill. Keep an eye out for tomoe and you will see them used to decorate all manner things from taiko drums and protective charms to lanterns and Japanese-style roofs! Powered by Create your own unique … Shinto has no known founder or single sacred scripture. One of the reasons that sakaki trees are considered sacred in Shinto has to do with the fact that they are evergreens and therefore symbolic of immortality. Shinkyo can be seen displayed at Shinto alters as an avatar of the kami, the idea being that the god will enter the mirror in order to interface with our world.This belief goes all the way back to a legend involving the Japanese sun goddess, Amaterasu, who once went into hiding in a cave, thereby plunging the world into darkness. Matane! Also I like Shinto Jinja as being there I feel in peace.
If you go at the right time, you might even see shide attached to special wands used by Shinto priests performing said ceremonies.There are two theories behind why shide have their lightning shape.
The lightning-shaped decorations are called “shide” (pronounced "she-day") and are also used in a variety of purification ceremonies.
The Three Imperial Regalia ("Sanshu no Jingi," 三種の神器), also referred to in English as the Three Divine Treasures. The lack of the gaudy and ostentatious is a strong appeal. I like Japanese gardens where I can just sit or walk and take my time. While there are a great number of color variations (including black), there is an even greater number of shapes (somewhere around 60 different varieties!). Even with what we have covered today, there is much more to learn when it comes to Shinto, the way of the gods. The two most common kinds, however, are "myojin" and "shinmei" torii. The shinkyo is considered a "shintai," or a physical stand-in that the kami can inhabit in the human realm.By the way, the cave described in the legend is actually a real place, now called the Amanoyasugawara Shrine, in Miyazaki Prefecture (pictured above).
In Japan, the color red is representative of the sun and life, and it is also said to ward off bad omens and disasters. It's a bit off the beaten path but is a very cool place to visit once you know this story.