Patrons’ Marks
Plaques. Lists of names. Framed photographs of donors. Just a few ways of mentioning and remembering those who give—either financially or with their own time—in order to support and help an organization or special attraction.
Recently, I’ve come across interesting parallels in this concept in two entirely different places. These both have the patrons’ names engraved in a consecutive fashion, outdoors.
First, at the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan: This large shrine is famous for its red ‘torii’ gate “tunnel”. All shrines in Japan have at least one or two large red entrance gates (torii), which have become iconic of shrines (pic, left). At Fushimi Shrine, a series of larger and smaller gates placed closely together form a long snaking tunnel, through which visitors walk. There are supposedly 10,000 gates, creating a tunnel of over 4 km, but broken up into sections.
It’s a lovely experience, especially on a sunny day when the sun makes the red pillars glow even more warmly.
Each gate, or toii, has been donated by a company or group and 
their name(s) are inscribed in bold black characters on the pillars of the gates—but only on one side. So, when you begin walking the loop you don’t see the names, but on the way back you are confronted with the series of names. All written in Japanese, of course, but our hosts, Hiro and Mina, pointed many out to us, such as universities and large corporations. It’s important to give to the shrine and it’s important to have that recognized, so this is very visible—-a kind of free advertising!
Second, at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Sanford (just north of Orlando), we also find a series of names. But, here they are inscribed/carved on the wooden boards of the boardwalk that meanders round the zoo gardens and passes by, or over, many of the animal enclosures. So, people actually walk on the names, reading as they go along—personal messages, remembrances of family members or friends, dedications, names of companies are all there. Look down and see “Yellow Pages”, look up and see a Siamang (a black-furred gibbon ape) in a large fenced enclosure, for example.
What fun!
