Karakane Torii, Chinese Bronze Gate 唐銅鳥居

Official explanation

This torii gate was made of bronze in 1799. In Shinto belief and architecture, torii gates mark the boundary between worldly and sacred spaces, acting as a gateway to the sacred realm of deities. The center-upper frame of the torii reads “Nikko Futarasan,” and the circular-shaped engravings display the shrine’s crest.

There are lotus flower patterns on the lower sections of the pillars. The Buddhist deity Kannon, the goddess of mercy, is often portrayed riding on a lotus. The lotus motif is rarely seen at Shinto shrines. Its presence here is a reminder of the historical fusion of Buddhism with Japan’s indigenous Shinto faith which lasted until the Meiji period (1868–1912).

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.