ABSTRACT
Japanese restraint is carried out in all its chastity in Shinto architecture. The shrines follow the general lines of the primitive hut, but they have a distinguishing feature at the ends of the roof in the elongated rafters which cross like an "X" and are joined by a horizontal piece of wood. Roofs were formerly thatched, but fine bark shingles are used more often now. A heavy straw rope hangs before the open building to be pulled by the supplicant to ring a bell announcing his presence to the gods. The interior of the shrine has no images of any description. There being no necessity to enter the building, people ring the b~ll, pray, toss a few coins toward the money box and depart.
