Why is the TORII (鳥居) Gate in vermilion?

   

◆ Why is the TORII (鳥居) Gate in vermilion? ◆

 

If you find a TORII GATE(鳥居), you are in shrine.

TORII is facing south so that the sunlight can enter. The reason is that the philosophy of Feng Shui is behind the creation of the shrine.

It is said that the Torii is the entrance of shrine which divides the sacred world and the ordinary world.  

Why is the TORII (鳥居) in vermilion? 

 

There are several interpretations about the color vermillion. Firstly, vermillion is the color of happiness. Secondly, it is believed that vermillion wards off evil 
spirits. We can purify ourselves spiritually by passing through a Torii gate.

"Tori" in Japanese means bird. "I" means house. It is said that Torii originated as perches for sacred birds within shrine compounds.

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