Fine Arts Seminar: Test 1 Vocab

Aniconic

Art or architecture that avoids images of people or gods and instead uses symbols, patterns, or shapes

Iconic

Art or architecture that shows images of people, gods, or sacred figures. (Think: "icon = image.")

Darsan/Darshan

In Hinduism, the sacred act of seeing and being seen by a deity. Worshippers look at the deity's image in a temple, and the deity's gaze blesses them in return.

Garbhagriha

The innermost shrine of a Hindu temple where the main deity's image is kept. Only priests usually enter this space. (->God's room in the temple)

Hierophany (Eliade)

A moment or place where the sacred shows itself in the ordinary world.

Lingam

A symbol of the Hindu god Shiva, usually a smooth stone or pillar, representing divine energy and creation.

Mandala

A geometric design that shows the universe in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It's used for meditation and as a model for temple layouts.

Mandapa

A pillared hall or porch in a Hindu temple, often used for gatherings, rituals, or as the entry space before the main shrine.

The Mānasāra (codified by ca. 5th-7th c.)

An ancient Sanskrit text (5th-7th c.) that gives rules and guidelines for architecture, temple design, and city planning in India.

mudra

A hand gesture in Hindu and Buddhist art and ritual that expresses a specific meaning (like teaching, protection, or meditation).

murti

A sacred image or statue of a deity in Hinduism, treated as the living presence of the god during worship.

prayer flag

A colorful cloth found in Tibetan Buddhism, printed with prayers or mantras, that's hung to spread blessings and good energy when the wind blows.

prayer wheel

A cylindrical wheel used in Tibetan Buddhism that contains scrolls with prayers or mantras; spinning it is believed to send blessings and good karma into the world.

Relief sculpture

Figures are carved into or raised slightly from a flat surface, like a wall or panel.

Full-round (or freestanding) sculpture

Figures are completely three-dimensional and can be viewed from all sides.

shikhara (vimana)

The tower or spire above the Garbhagriha (main shrine) of a Hindu temple, symbolizing the sacred mountain and connecting heaven and earth.

Thangka

A painted or embroidered scroll in Tibetan Buddhism, showing deities, mandalas, or sacred scenes, used for teaching or meditation.

Vāstu-Śastras

Ancient Indian texts on architecture and design, giving rules for building homes, temples, and cities in harmony with cosmic order.

Mānasāra Vāstu

A specific Vāstu text (5th-7th c.) that codifies detailed instructions for temple and city planning.

Zen hanging scrolls

Vertical scrolls in Japanese Zen practice, often with paintings or calligraphy, used for meditation, teaching, or inspiring insight.