Sandō
Encyclopedia
A in Japanese architecture is the road approaching either a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple
. Its point of origin is usually straddled in the first case by a Shinto torii
, in the second by a Buddhist sanmon
, gates which mark the beginning of the shrine's or temple territory. There can also be stone lanterns and other decorations at any point along its course.
A sandō can be called an , if it is the main entrance, or an if it is a secondary point of entrance. The famous Omotesandō
district in Tokyo, for example, takes its name from the nearby main access path to Meiji Shrine
. An ura-sandō also used to exist.
Buddhist temples in Japan
Along with Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples are the most numerous, famous, and important religious buildings in Japan.The term "Shinto shrine" is used in opposition to "Buddhist temple" to mirror in English the distinction made in Japanese between Shinto and Buddhist religious structures. In...
. Its point of origin is usually straddled in the first case by a Shinto torii
Torii
A is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred...
, in the second by a Buddhist sanmon
Sanmon
A , also called is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple, and is part of the Zen shichidō garan, the group of buildings that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple. It can be however often found in temples of other denominations too...
, gates which mark the beginning of the shrine's or temple territory. There can also be stone lanterns and other decorations at any point along its course.
A sandō can be called an , if it is the main entrance, or an if it is a secondary point of entrance. The famous Omotesandō
Omotesando
' is an avenue, subway station and neighborhood in the Minato and Shibuya wards in Tokyo stretching from Harajuku station, the foot of the famous Takeshita Street, to Aoyama-dori where Omotesandō station can be found. Zelkova trees line both sides of the avenue. Around 100,000 cars drive down the...
district in Tokyo, for example, takes its name from the nearby main access path to Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine
', located in Shibuya, Tokyo, is the Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken.-History:...
. An ura-sandō also used to exist.
See also
- ShendaoSpirit wayA spirit way is the ornate road leading to a Chinese tomb of a major dignitary.The term is also sometimes translated as spirit road, spirit path or sacred way....
, a decorated road to a grave of an emperor or another dignitary in China