The torii of Japan is one of the many symbols of the country. These simple yet mystifying gates dot the Japanese __1__. But where exactly do they come from, and what do they represent?
While the origins of these aesthetic-looking gates are not clear, many historians believe that they have been __2__ from India or China. In India, gates called torana appear at entrances to Buddhist and Hindu temples. The name torana also sounds a bit similar to torii, which further __3__ the theory. In China, similar structures known as pailou are built at the entrances to Buddhist and Taoist temples as well. Japanese legend, however, says differently.
According to the Kojiki, a collection of myths written in 712 about Japan and its local deities or kami, the origin of torii has to do with Amaterasu, the sun goddess of the Shinto religion. She became outraged by her __4__ brother¡¦s destructive behavior. She then locked herself in a cave, plunging the world into __5__. Other kami thought of a way to entice her to come out: to get the bird of the morning to call out. They __6__ a perch in front of the cave and positioned roosters on it. This perch was the first torii. Upon hearing the roosters call, Amaterasu emerged to see what was going on, returning light to the world. The story sounds __7__ since the Japanese characters for torii literally mean ¡§bird home.¡¨
The torii __8__ the border between the living world and the spirit world. When one crosses through a torii, they are entering __9__ land, the land of the kami. Each torii that a person passes through means they are entering a land holier than the last. When leaving a temple, it¡¦s important to leave through all of the gates you walked through when entering; otherwise, you¡¦ll be __10__ in the spirit world. So, the next time you¡¦re admiring a temple in Japan, remember to be respectful towards the kami and return to our world safe and sound.
(A) stuck (B) wicked (C) adds to (D) installed (E) darkness
(F) imported (G) landscape (H) sacred ( I ) reasonable (J) stands for
µª®×¡G1.G 2.F 3.C 4.B 5.E 6.D 7.I 8.J 9.H 10.A
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Words in Use
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theory [£¿£ciərÈþ]
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sacred [£¿sekrÈþd]
a. ¯«¸tªº
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myth [mÈþ£c]
n. ¯«¸Ü¡F°g«ä¡A¿ù»~ªº·Qªk
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destructive [dÈþ£¿strʌktÈþv]
a. ¯}Ãaªº
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plunge [plʌndʒ]
n. & vi. ¸õ¤J
vi. ÆJ°
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spiritual [£¿spÈþrÈþtÈõÈýəl]
a. . ¬ü¡]·P¡^ªº¡A¼f¬üªº¡e^¡f¡]= esthetic [ Es`HEtIk ]¡e¬ü¡f¡^
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outrage [£¿aÈýt͵redʒ]
vt. . ¨Ï¼«´n
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holy [£¿holÈþ]
a. ¯«¸tªº
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darkness [£¿dɑrknÈþs]
n. ¶Â·t
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import [£¿Èþmport]
n. ¶i¤f«~
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mystifying [ `mÈþsəˌfɑÈþÈþɧ ]
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deity [£¿diətÈþ]
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Shinto [£¿ÈõÈþnto]
n. ¡]¤é¥»¡^¯«¹D±Ð
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entice [Èþn£¿taÈþs]
vt. ¤Þ»¤¡A»¤¨Ï
Practical Phrases
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safe and sound ¦wµMµL®~¦a
I felt happy to learn that Ben had come back safe and sound.
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To most people, roses stand for love.
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add to sth ¼W²K¬Y¨Æª«
The fancy dress added to Wendy's charm.
10. When leaving a temple, it¡¦s important to leave through all of the gates you walked through when entering; otherwise, you¡¦ll be stuck in the spirit world.