BSC2023 Mr Tough Guy Sacred Shinto Tree

[Mr Tough Guy]

Had an idea to do something along the lines of a Japanese Shinto shrine. I have an image in my head of a Tori gate leading to some stone steps going up a hill. But then the idea of scratchbuilding a Shrine looked a bit daunting, so looking into the subject of Shrines I came across Yorishiro, which are objects capable of attracting kami, giving them a physical space to occupy. Some of them come in the form of trees, recognisable by the shimenawa ropes and the paper shide streamers.

So that's the plan, a bit of a hill with some stone stairs leading up, Tori Gate down at the entrance of the stairs and a big ass sacred tree on top, maybe some stone lanterns.

I still need to figure out how to do the tree though, I want something thick and substantial, but don't neccesarily want too much height, especially as it's also going on a hill, and as I was planning to use metal wire to build up the ranches I also don't want it to be too top heavy, so maybe a damaged tree or something like that.

I also like the idea of juxtaposing the traditional Shinto aspects with something more modern and technological so I also have an idea of adding a vending machine somewhere, I have one from one of the Dungeons and Lasers kickstarter, and I figured it would be perfect to bring the piece into a more modern or even sci-fi era. If I can think of any thing else to add to modernize or sci-fi it, I will see if I can add them as well.

[OSHIROmodels]

Having been to several of these in Japan over the years, the vending machine is absolutely perfect 

Why not have a ruined trunk (hit by lightning for example)?

[Daeothar]

That sounds cool. I'm immediately thinking of Totoro for some reaosn, but that might be too ambitious a tree

The vending machine would be hilarious, but maybe make it removable as to not make any samurai themed game look like a film set?

Best of luck!

[has.been]

Fascinating idea, & good luck with it.

[BeneathALeadMountain]

That sounds like a great idea Mr T! As soon as I read the part concerning the tree I was on the same lines as OSHIRO and thinking about the creation of Jin in bonsai (creating dead wood to add character) which could look beautiful and fit your needs. Even just a stump or shortened trunk with epicormic growth might work and would allow you to control the height.

Good luck I’m looking forwards to seeing how you do,

Andrew
Balm

[Vanvlak]

Cool idea, I am a fan of the vending machine idea!

[AKULA]

Interesting idea, look forward to seeing it progress 

[Golgotha]

Should prove awesome looking forward to seeing this one.

[Mr Tough Guy]

I've been looking around for inspiration on what kind of tree I would like, and I've settled on a giant sacred camphor tree of the Takeo shrine as my major source of inspiration


http://www.takeo-kk.net/photo/uploads/%E6%AD%A6%E9%9B%84%E3%81%AE%E5%A4%A7%E6%A5%A0.jpg
http://www.takeo-kk.net/photo/uploads/%E6%AD%A6%E9%9B%84%E3%81%AE%E5%A4%A7%E6%A5%A0%20%282%29.jpg

I won't try to completly recreate it, and it will probably be a bit smaller, but I will try to copy the basic shape, big hollow trunk, and some large branches coming from the top, though maybe I'll go wider rather than higher, and I think I'll need to plan to go out and find some broken branches to use.

[Golgotha]

That is a beautiful tree look forward to seeing your take on it.

[Mr Tough Guy]

Found this website about the proportions of a Torii gate



https://suikoushya.com/ja/2020/04/13/toriiproject3/

Not sure I'll want it entirely that accurate and precise, I'll at least try to keep the main proportions, and make sure the height and width of the opening is the same, but will probably wing the rest a bit as long as it looks good.
I did already buy some wooden rods to use as the pillars, but if I want to keep the gate in propoprtion to the width of the pillars it will be a lot bigger than planned, so maybe I'll see if I can find some smaller rods. Also I don't think I'll be tapering the pillars like in the pic but will keep them the same width throughout.

[Mr Tough Guy]

Some sketches and a mockup.
the torii is an old one I build ages ago and is just a placeholder, the final one will be a bit more realistic and not as fantasy as per my previous post. I need to rummage around and see if I can find something to get a bit more height on the hill, unfortunately I don't have more extruded polystyrene, but I might have something else I can use. the pink container will be the basis of the tree, and I've started on the first of the wire branches

[Mr Tough Guy]

Started work on the tree, couple pieces of wood found in the park form the core and the rest is mostly aluminium and hot glue and some wire branches. Need to make and add a few more wire branches and then I'll start texturing.

[OSHIROmodels]

Coming along nicely 

[snitcythedog]

Looking much better.  Now I can visualize past the container.