Religion and architecture in premodern indonesia : studies in spatial anthropology / by Gaudenz Domenig.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Domenig, Gaudenz, author.

Series:

Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 294.

Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Landen Volkenkunde, 1572-1892 ; Volume 294

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Architecture--Exhibitions.

Architecture.

Religions--Case studies.

Religions.

Indonesia--Religious life and customs.

Indonesia.

Indonesia--Religion.

Indonesia--Antiquities.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (594 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden, Netherlands : Koninklijke Brill, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In his richly illustrated Religion and Architecture in Premodern Indonesia Gaudenz Domenig investigates the nature of Indonesian ethnic religions by focusing on land opening rituals, sacred groves, and architectural responses to the custom of presenting offerings. Since deities and spirits were supposed to taste offerings on the spot, it was a task of architecture to attract them and to guide them into houses where offerings were presented. Domenig quotes numerous sources to show that certain material elements of the house were viewed as spirit attractors, spirit ladders or spirit pathways. Various ‘exotic’ features of Indonesian vernacular architecture thus become understandable as relics from times when architecture was still responding to indigenous religions practised in the archipelago.

Contents:

Preliminary Material / Gaudenz Domenig

Introduction / Gaudenz Domenig

Introductory notes: The landtaking ritual as a key to understanding indigenous religions / Gaudenz Domenig

Land-clearing rituals and sacred groves / Gaudenz Domenig

Sacred groves and tabooed mountains / Gaudenz Domenig

The soul land and the place of deified ancestors / Gaudenz Domenig

Introductory notes: Deities and spirits called to offerings / Gaudenz Domenig

Temporary altars and the attraction of fresh leaves / Gaudenz Domenig

Roofed altars and offering houses / Gaudenz Domenig

Artificial ladders and inverted posts / Gaudenz Domenig

Introductory notes: The sources and their interpretation / Gaudenz Domenig

Spirit pathways in the Tanimbar house / Gaudenz Domenig

Rafters as paths / Gaudenz Domenig

Plumes and brushes as attractors / Gaudenz Domenig

Gable finials / Gaudenz Domenig

Projecting gables / Gaudenz Domenig

The relative instability of roofs / Gaudenz Domenig

Epilogue / Gaudenz Domenig

Glossary of technical terms / Gaudenz Domenig

List of works cited / Gaudenz Domenig

Sources of illustrations and credits / Gaudenz Domenig

Index / Gaudenz Domenig.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-27407-3

OCLC:

878108932

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004274075 DOI