(thing) by -brazil- Sun Jan 28 2001 at 2:20:08
A wodden or stone gate with the ends of the crossbar often curved slightly upwards, like this: 

__              __
\ \------------/ /
 \--+-+----+-+--/
    / /     \ \
   / /       \ \
  / /         \ \
 / /           \ \
/ /             \ \
--               --

Torii are a standard feature of Shinto shrines.

I like it!