ARCH 214: World History of Arch- Exam 2 Keywords

Vedas

ancient indian stories in the language sanskrit; originally oral transmission and later written down

Ghats

“river landing stairs” or “mountain pass,” providing access to riverbanks for bathing

Brahmins

a member of the highest hindu class, that of the priesthood

Buddha, Buddhism

“enlightened,” utilizing morality, mediation, and wisdom

Stupa

dirt burial mound faced with stone; shape of stupa represents the buddha, crowned and sitting in meditation posture on a lion throne

Chaitya, Vihara

a place of worship, shrine, prayer hall and a place of living for the buddhist monks

Chhatri

semi-open, elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in indo-islamic architecture and indian architecture

Pradakshina-patha

clockwise circumambulation of sacred entities, walking around in a “circle” as a form of worship in hindu ceremonies in india

Mandala

represent time and space, complex circle

Pagoda

originated from indian stupa buildings, known to chinese architecture as a tiered tower with roofs curving upwards; eaves and tower pavilion style

Cosmic ocean

“ocean of milk,” vishnu convinces the gods to “churn” the ocean to bring forth amrita, the nectar of immortality, so that they can live forever

Vishnu

the preserver

Shiva

the destroyer, swallows the poison that comes out of the “ocean milk”

Lingam

symbol of divine generative energy, sacred phallus as a symbol of god shiva

Hindu Renaissance

response to the emergence of many social and religious vices in the hindu society to india; a revival that was to reawaken its devotees to their ancient faith, expose them to christian and muslim ideas, and finally to make its influence felt as far afield as america

Grabha-griha

womb house, sanctum sanctorum, innermost sanctuary of hindu temples

Shikhara

depiction of a mountain, “mountain peak,” topmost pointed portion of a temple

Mandir

freestanding hindu temple, bringing hindus and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion

Mount Kailash, Mount Meru

sacred peak in the himalayas, a golden mountain that stands in the center of the universe and is the axis of the world

Mandapa

pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals, porch like structure used for religious dancing and music

Rammed Earth

compacted natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, lime, or gravel

Mandate of Heaven

idea that there could be only one legitimate ruler of china at a time and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods

Wangcheng Plan

ideal city, a square urban layout based on the well-field system which divided and ruled the land by a grid plan

Confucianism

an ancient chinese belief system, which focuses on the importance of personal ethics and morality

Daoism

“the way” is the natural order of the universe

To Kung (dǒugǒng)

a structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, bracket system

Hip, gable, hip and gable

hip roof that slopes down on all four sides and integrates a gable on two opposing sides

Shintoism

an ancient religion of japan, importance of purity, harmony, respect for nature, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group

Kami

spirits or holy powers, a divine being in the shinto religion

Torii

sacred gateway of a shinto shrine with two uprights and two cross pieces

Shimenawa

rice or hemp rope found at shinto shrines, dividing the space between the sacred area where gods are enshrined and the outside world

Mausoleum

buildings that holds dead people

Groin vault

produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults

Catacombs

passageways for religious practice, any chamber used as a burial place

Clerestory

fenestrated (windowed) wall of a room that is carried higher than the surrounding roofs to light the interior space

Nave, aisles, chapel

in a basilican church, nave refers only to the central aisle; nave is set apart for the laity

Apse

a part of church that sticks out from one end of the building, is usually semicircular, has an arched roof, and is often richly decorated

Martyrium

building or chamber used by the early christians as a burial place

Pendentives

a curved triangle of vaulting formed by the intersection of a dome with its supporting arches