- chigi: Originally, the projecting barge couples, at the ends of the ridge of a roof in a Shinto shrine; now usually a pair of crossed timbers which are placed at each end of the ridge; also called forked finials.
- haiden: A hall of worship, usually in front of the honden of a Shinto shrine.
- hashira: A sacred post in Shinto architecture, shaped by human hands.
- honden: In Shinto architecture, the main inner shrine.
- jinja: A Shinto shrine. Also see jinsha.
- jinsha: A Shinto shrine. Also see jinsha.
- kairo: A covered corridor surrounding the central core of a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine.
- kamidana: A shelf in a Shinto house, the location of a sacred image.
- Kasuga-zukuri: A style of Shinto shrine, characterized by a hipped roof extending from the main roof, over a centrally placed entrance stair at one gable end.
- katsuogi: On certain Shinto shrines, short circular billets placed at right angles to the ridge of the roof; may be as many as ten in number.
- Nagare-zukuri: A style of Shinto shrine, based on the Ise prototype, but with the front slope of the roof extending to form a canopy over the entrance stair; this space eventually developed into a prayer room for worshipers.
- Shimmei-zukuri: A style of Shinto shrine embodying the original style of Japanese building, before the introduction of Buddhism. It consists essentially of a small unpainted rectangular structure raised above ground level on posts inserted directly into the earth. A railed veranda surrounds the structure at floor level, a freestanding post at each gable end supports the ridge, and the bargeboards extend outward from the thickly thatched roof, forming chigi at each end.
- shinto: The moral code or system of Japan. Shinto shrines are plain wooden structures, without images, thatched, and approached by passing under one or more torii, or porches composed of two posts bearing one or more cross beams, generally carved. The latter are accepted as symbols of Shinto.
- shintoo: The moral code or system of Japan. Shinto shrines are plain wooden structures, without images, thatched, and approached by passing under one or more torii, or porches composed of two posts bearing one or more cross beams, generally carved. The latter are accepted as symbols of Shinto.
- Taisha style: The oldest style of Shinto shrines in existence. The Grand Shrine of lzumo on the coast of the Sea of Japan is the outstanding example, consisting of four compartments surrounded by a verandah with a balustrade.
- torii: The posts-and-curved-lintels gateway to a Shinto temple.
Also see Architecture index.