The Khadira Wedges and Architectural Lore
Re-Examining the Materials Used in the Making of the Vajrakīla in India, 6-8th Century AD
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3188423 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mingzhou Chi (University of Science and Technology Beijing, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 682 |
| Publication date | 2024-05-30 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religions (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/rel15060682 |
| OpenAlex | W4399284441 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 7 |
This research examines the Vajra-kīla made from khadira wood from a technological history perspective, focusing on the use of the kīla in Indian rituals and its contrasts with Indrakīla and other deified forms in various practices. The Indian prototype of the pronged instrument can be traced back to architectural tools. During Indian rituals, monks incorporated architectural customs into maṇḍala construction, including striking wedges made of khadira wood, tying five-colored strings, driving the kīla into the ground no more than four fingers deep, and never retrieving the wedges. Consequently, the majority of these disappeared without a trace. By exploring its early forms and materials, we can also understand the causes of the geographical imbalance in the remaining quantities of kīla
Art · Architecture and Cultural Influences · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Historical and Architectural Studies · History
| Citations per year | 0.5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |