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

• VerfasserIn: Domenig, Gaudenz,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden, Netherlands : : Koninklijke Brill,, 2014.; ©2014
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde 294.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (594 p.)
• Notes: Includes index.

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.

Table of 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.