Religion and architecture in premodern Indonesia
Subtitle: studies in spatial anthropology
By: by Gaudenz Domenig
Series: Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde -- volume 294; Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde -- 294.
Publisher: Brill
Published: 2014
Place of publication: Leiden; Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 576
ISBN-13: 9789004274006
Copyright date: 2014
Subjects: Vernacular architecture; Religious aspects; Architecture and religion; Prehistoric Architecture; Sacred space; Religious life and customs; Religion; Antiquities
Description: In his richly illustrated book, 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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 533-554) and index.
Table of contents: title: List of maps --; title: Preface and acknowledgments --; title: Introduction -- -- Part One.; title: Dwelling Spaces of Gods and Spirits. -- Introductory notes :; title: The landtaking ritual as a key to understanding indigenous religions ; -- Chapter one.; title: Land-clearing rituals and sacred groves ; -- Chapter two.; title: Sacred groves and tabooed mountains ; -- Chapter three.; title: The soul land and the place of deified ancestors -- -- Part Two.; title: Altars, Spirit Lures and Spirit Ladders. -- Introductory notes :; title: Deities and spirits called to offerings ; -- Chapter four.; title: Temporary altars and the attraction of fresh leaves ; -- Chapter five.; title: Roofed altars and offering houses ; -- Chapter six.; title: Artificial ladders and inverted posts -- -- Part Three.; title: Spirit Pathways Leading Into the House. -- Introductory notes :; title: The sources and their interpretation ; -- Chapter seven.; title: Spirit pathways in the Tanimbar house ; -- Chapter eight.; title: Rafters as paths ; -- Chapter nine.; title: Plumes and brushes as attractors ; -- Chapter ten.; title: Gable finials ; -- Chapter eleven.; title: Projecting gables ; -- Chapter twelve.; title: The relative instability of roofs --; title: Epilogue --; title: Glossary of technical terms --; title: List of works cited --; title: Sources of illustrations and credits --; title: Index.