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Mesocosm is a study of Hinduism in its most fully realized form as a symbolic system for organizing the life of a particular kind of city - what the author terms an "archaic" city. The work is a detailed description and analysis of the symbolic world of Bhaktapur, a unicultural city in the Kathmandu Valley, a city which is perhaps the last surviving example of a type of organization once widespread in the ancient world. Robert Levy views Bhaktapur as a structured "mesocosm," mediating between the microcosm of individual self-conception and the macrocosm of the culturally conceived larger universe. The city is a bounded entity, grounded on a minutely divided and interrelated sacrilized space. It uses that space, roles assigned by an elaborate caste system, a semantically differentiated pantheon, and the tempos and forms of the festival year and rites of passage to construct a "civic dance," a web of communication and instruction which deeply affects the experience of Bhaktapur's citizens. Levy investigates the meaning of the community to the people who live there and suggests how the religious forms that have challenged Hinduism in South Asia - Christianity and, above all, Islam - are profoundly antithetical to Hinduism as the organizing principle for cities such as Bhaktapur. Mesocosm is a groundbreaking contribution to anthropology, social and religious history, and Indian and Nepalese studies--Publisher's description.

Hindu sociology. --- Sociology, Urban --- Hinduism --- Newar (Nepalese people) --- Hindu sociology --- Religion --- Philosophy & Religion --- Bhaktapur (Nepal) --- Religious life and customs. --- Newar (Nepalese people). --- Urban sociology --- Sociology, Hindu --- Newari (Nepalese people) --- Newars --- Bhādgāon, Nepal --- Bhādgāon (Nepal) --- Bhatgaon (Nepal) --- Bhatgoan (Nepal) --- Bhakatpur (Nepal) --- Badagaon (Nepal) --- Khvapa (Nepal) --- Bhakttapura (Nepal) --- Religions --- Brahmanism --- Cities and towns --- Sociology --- Ethnology --- Tibeto-Burman peoples

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This book celebrates in words and images the traditional metal crafts practised for over a thousand years by the creators of religious Buddhist statues in Nepal. The skills of these artisans are nurtured with deep respect for tradition, regarding religion, iconography and technology. Wax modellers, mould makers, casters, fire-gilders and chasers are among the specialists of the Newar ethnic group, whose work is characterised to this day by a melding of age-old technology, great skill, religious observance and contemplation. There are numerous books and exhibition catalogues dedicated to Buddhist art and iconography but little was available about the craft of the artists who turn the religious imagery into metal casts. This book fills this gap, with a thoroughly documented and historical account of the development of this “archaic” technology. The well-informed text and comprehensive photographic coverage constitute the only up-to-date account and full documentation of an art that is 1300 years old but dying out: the “ritual” production of Buddhist statues in the lost wax casting technique. The author, Dr. Alex Furger, is an archaeologist who has studied ancient metallurgy and metalworking techniques over the past four decades. He spent twenty-five years at the head of the Roman site of Augusta Raurica and lives in Basel (Switzerland). He is the author of over 130 articles in scientific journals and twelve books in the field of culture history. The fieldwork for this book led him repeatedly to Nepal, where he met and interviewed dozens of craftsmen in their workshops. This book is addressed to readers interested in culture history, travellers to Asia, collectors of statues of Buddha, (avocational) metalworkers, historians of technology, Buddhists, ethnologists, archaeologists, art historians, scholars of Asia and to libraries and museums.

statues --- gilded --- metal --- Newar --- iconography --- wax --- religion --- Buddha --- archaeology --- fire-gilders --- metal casters --- Nepal --- artisans --- mould --- Art metal-work --- Buddhist art --- Decorative arts --- Newar (Nepalese people) --- Art metal-work. --- Buddhist art. --- Decorative arts. --- Nepal. --- Newari (Nepalese people) --- Newars --- Ethnology --- Tibeto-Burman peoples --- Applied arts --- Art industries and trade --- Art --- Handicraft --- Art, Buddhist --- Art, Lamaist --- Buddhism and art --- Art metal-work, Primitive --- Decorative metal-work --- Metal-work, Art --- Metal-work --- Architectural metal-work --- Cộng hòa dân chủ liên bang Nepal --- Demokratische Bundesrepublik Nepal --- Federacia Demokratia Respubliko Nepalo --- Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal --- Federale Democratische Republiek Nepal --- Federativnai͡a Demokraticheskai͡a Respublika Nepal --- Federatyvna Demokratychna Respublika Nepal --- Kingdom of Nepal --- Kongeriget Nepal --- Nepā --- Nepal Adhirajya --- Nepāla --- Nepālas Federālā Demokrātiskā Republika --- Nepalgo Errepublika Demokratiko Federala --- Nepali Demokraatlik Liitvabariik --- Nepalia --- Nepalin demokraattinen liittotasavalta --- Nepalo --- Nepāru --- Ni-po-erh --- Nibo'er --- Nīpāl --- República Federal Democrática de Nepal --- República Federal Democràtica del Nepal --- République démocratique fédérale du Népal --- Respublika Nepal --- Sambandslýðveldið Nepal --- Sanghiya Loktāntrik Ganatantra Nepāl --- Savezna Demokratska Republika Nepal