Table 1 Case Studies Information
Architecture names | Meidaizhao Mahavira Hall | Temple of Heaven Huanqiu Altar Complex | Neixiang County Yamen | Liping Tang’an Dong Village |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Architecture type | Religious architecture | Ritualistic architecture | Official architecture | village architecture |
Space type | faith space | ceremonial space | political space | secular space |
Space type connotations | Spaces for individual or collective faith activities, mostly churches and temples for witchcraft activities or worship activities, such as Meidaizhao, Foguang Temple | Spaces dedicated to or used as the main function of liturgical activities, mostly for the ancient Chinese halls, palaces, etc., such as the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, the Altar of Land and Grain | Spaces associated with state power and where political ceremonial activities take place, such as the Neixiang County Yamen, the Forbidden City Taihe Gate | Spaces serving daily production and living, including homes, villages, etc., such as Tang’an Dong Village, Yurt |
Site context | The only existing Tibetan Buddhist temple in China where ‘people and gods live together and the city and temple are combined’41 | The world’s largest existing complex of buildings to worship the heaven; the place where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties made heavenly sacrifices42 | Feudal times, county-level government offices, known as the ‘world’s first Yamen’43 | Located in the Dong ethnic area of Guizhou Province, it is a typical representative of Dong villages in Southwest China44 |
Ritual purpose | Buddha Worship, Prayer for Blessings | Auspicious Rites, Great Sacrifices, Heaven worship | Defend the political regime | Daily routine |
Ritual behavior | Devotees participate in the blessing ceremony | The Emperor and his ministers made heavenly worship on the Winter Solstice | Inauguration of local officials | Daily Life Rituals of the Dong People |
