Also called hie torii 日吉鳥居, sōgō torii 総合鳥居, hafu torii 破風鳥居 or gasshō torii 合掌鳥居. A wooden entrance gate at a Shinto shrine *torii 鳥居, characterized by a gable shaped structure composed of a central strut and diagonal braces on each side and placed on top of the uppermost lintel *kasagi 笠木. At the peak of the gable is a very short member called a utō 烏頭, torikabuto 鳥兜 or which karasugashira 烏頭 suggests a ridge. These architectural elements have no structural significance but may symbolize a mountain deity. Two characters may also be hidden within its bargeboard-like gable shape. If the upper ends of the peak were to be turned to an upright position, the character for mountain, yama/san 山 would be discernible. If the same members were raised to a horizontal position the character for king, ō 王 would be represented. Thus, the connotation of a mountain king could be extended to mean a mountain deity. It is from these hidden characters that the name, sannō 山王 is derived. Furthermore, sannō torii are located at the foot of Mt. Hiei 比叡. Example: Hie Taisha 日吉大社, both the East and West areas, Shiga Prefecture.
