Enshrining the sacred: microarchitecture in ritual spaces

Abstract

"The volume explores receptacles housing objects with divine or supernatural powers attributed to them. It offers pioneering comparative insights regarding the focal ritual structures in sacred places of world religions, including Catholic Sacrament houses and architectural altarpieces, Jewish Torah arks, Islamic mihrabs, Vietnamese household shrines, and Japanese butsudans. The publication elucidates artistic expressions, liturgical practices and customary behaviors which distinguish abodes of divine or sacred contents. The chapters sound the voices of experts in religious architecture around the world and provide an encyclopedic scope of knowledge on the subject. Whereas each chapter focuses on a certain period, area, or tradition, the entire collection draws a comparative, cross-cultural and multi- and interdisciplinary image of smaller-scale architectural objects of spiritual devotion."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Microarchitecture and Supernatural: An Introductory Survey / Ilia Rodov -- A Temple in a Temple: Medieval Tabernacles in the Iberian Peninsula / Aintzane Erkizia-Martikorena and Justin Kroesen -- Mary and Zechariah in Mosques: The Kullamā Verse on Early Ottoman Miḥrāb / Yumna Masarwa -- Household Shrines in Vietnam / Heonik Kwon.