Could somebody please tell me what this Japanese garden feature is called.

rockm

I wouldn't worry about the absence of a Shinto shrine in building a torii gate for your garden. They CAN indicate the presence of a shrine, but not necessarily. I wouldn't worry about this kind of thing. You're not insulting anyone or hurting anyone in building one.

Advertisement

zen

You could always just not paint it red,...then that frees you up from having to erect a shrine. xD

__________________
"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

Joanie

We have one at the San Diego Bonsai Pavilion. It's natural in color. When it was built, the club was full of Japanese members, and John Naka came to visit. So apparently the abcense of a shrine didn't bother anyone.

Just don't paint it red.

Joanie

__________________

Bonsaifreak

I debated the red versus natural color when I built mine. Most if not all the tori gates in Japan are red (actually is a bright orange). No, I don't have a shinto shrine in my garden and people have not asked me if there is one behind the gate. My suggestion is, if you like it, go for it. If you want to paint it red, blue or magenta, go for it. It is your garden and you know what would look good in it. I find the dark red (barn red) color of the gate contrasts well with the greens and dark browns of the rest of my garden. People, including Japanese friends compliment me on it.

As far as the use of religious icons, I don't believe this is direspectful in any way just as I don't have any objections with people having a statue of St. Francis of Assissi in their garden...

God luck!

Jorge

__________________
"Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more."
Mark Twain

Boondock

On a visit to Japan, I was told the legend of the Torri gate.

It is a huge perch for roosters.

__________________
Washington Native Plant Society
USDA national plant database
Conifers.org

Joanie

Good point, Jorge.

Joanie

__________________

zube

St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and nature, which is why he is very often depicted in gardens.

__________________
Sorry doesn't put thumbs back on the hand, Marge.
H. Simpson

rockm

When in doubt about painting an object destined for a Japanese garden, opt not to.

Natural weathering of the wood would be considered more in tune with what a "Japanese garden" is after. Red gates, bridges, etc. can be distracting, instead of blending in with the overall naturalness the garden is supposed to entail.

Of course this is a personal bias...You will not be fined for painting

Joanie

Thoughtful splashes of color can bring empahasis too, and like a single flower, can give perspective and depth.

Joanie

__________________