A torii gate is a traditional Japanese gate found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine, which marks the transition from the secular world to the sacred space within the shrine. The gate is typically made of wood or stone and is painted vermilion (red) with a black or dark brown upper lintel. The gate has two upright posts, two crossbeams, and a roof, and is often adorned with decorative elements such as shimenawa (sacred ropes) and shide (paper zigzag streamers). The torii gate is not only a physical barrier between the sacred and secular worlds, but it is also believed to provide spiritual protection and purification for those who pass through it.
