222 



re])resent various deified Kmni or Shinto divinities. This particu- 

 lar shrine is devoted to the Protector of Harvest {hiari-fuyojin). 

 Tliis type is sup]wsed to lie the oldest form of Sacred Abode of 

 ancient Japan. The horizontal curved beam across the entrance 

 pillars is called the Rainbow ]3ragon (Ko-ryo). This is often 

 elaborately carved with the design of dragons and the pilgrims 

 pay homage right beneath this arch. The two stone foxes on 

 either side of the entrance gate are the messengers of the deity. 

 Just below the shrine is tlie beautiful pine gro\-e (Slio-riii) (Fig. 

 j6). 



The Torii 



Passing down the i)ath to the lake shore, the visitor approaches 

 the Torii-mon, a large wooden structure standing in the lake and 

 facing in the direction which leads up the hill to the Inari Shrine. 

 The front view of the Torii is obtained from the tea house or the 

 adjacent lake shore. Ordinarily, one would apj^'oach the Torii 

 in a boat and pass beneath its arch to the landing, ddie inscrip- 

 tion on the front side is Great Illuminating ])eitv (Dai-uiyo-jin), 

 or Spirit of Light. 



Idle Torii-mon is of uncertain derivation, but undoubtedly 

 means ]3ird-])erching Gate, just when it was first introduced is 

 not known, but probably very early in Ja])anesc history. The 

 Torii may be built of wood, stone. f)r bronze. Some of the 

 wooden Torrii are painted red, while others are roofed, having a 

 toj) with an upward curvatiue on both ends, usually bearing a 

 framed sign of the temple at its center. All these styles are for 

 the Shinto Shrines amalgamated with Buddhism. The pure 

 Shinto Shrines, ])articularly those at Ise. Atsnla. Izumo. or Meiji, 

 have the Torri-mon constructed with ])lain Hinoki wood (Japa- 

 nese cypress), with the horizontal beams ])erfectlv straight, im- 

 ])ainted, and without signs. 



The Torii-mon in this garden is modeled after the famous 

 camphorwood one erected at Miyajima, which stands in the water 

 of the sea, and is the only one in Japan placed in such a position. 

 It is admirable in proportion, gives an air of great dignity, and 

 harmonizes most beautifully with its surroundings (Fig. 17). 



Miya-jima, or Tem])le Island, is in the western part of the In- 

 land Sea of Japan, not far from the city of Hiroshima. Although 



