![Voi_ré_2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Voi_r%C3%A9_2.jpg)
''Miao (廟)'' are buildings in traditional
East Asian
East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea a ...
religions enshrining gods, myths or legends, sages of past dynasties, and famous historical figures. They are a kind of
Chinese temple architecture
Chinese temple architecture refer to a type of structures used as place of worship of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism or Chinese folk religion, where people revere ethnic Chinese gods and ancestors. They can be classified as:
* '' miào'' () or ''di ...
and contrast with
Ci Shrines which enshrine ancestors and people instead of deities.
In Vietnam
In Vietnam Miao are called vi, Miếu. In Vietnamese custom it is said that: Every village worshiping gods must have a Miao. In some places, there is both a Miao and a communal house. The Miao is the place where ghosts and spirits are dressed, the communal house is the place to worship the
City God
A tutelary () (also tutelar) is a deity or a Nature spirit, spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concep ...
and to serve as an office for people to gather. Miaos are often built in scenic places, especially on high mounds, or near large lakes and rivers.
In Japan
![Jigendo_Otsu06n4592](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/Jigendo_Otsu06n4592.jpg)
Overview
In
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
, a building dedicated to a specific person is called a , , or .
Shinto Shiki
Shinto shrines are mainly enshrined in the same way as ordinary
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
s. The
Engishiki Jinmeicho lists the shrine as "Oobihimebyo Shrine" (one of the head shrines of the current
Usa Jingu), while the Engishiki Shikibu-shiki section lists "Kashihimyo" (now
Kashii Shrine), which is not listed in the Jinmeicho.
、It is said that in some cases they were distinguished from shrines.
See also
*
Chinese temple architecture
Chinese temple architecture refer to a type of structures used as place of worship of Chinese Buddhism, Taoism or Chinese folk religion, where people revere ethnic Chinese gods and ancestors. They can be classified as:
* '' miào'' () or ''di ...
*
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consid ...
*
Jongmyo
*
Veneration of the dead
The veneration of the dead, including one's ancestors, is based on love and respect for the deceased. In some cultures, it is related to beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of t ...
-
Sorei
The Japanese word refers to the spirits of ancestors: Specifically it refers to the spirits of those ancestors that have been the target of special memorial services that have been held for them at certain fixed times after their death. The d ...
*
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
*
Taoist temple
A Taoist temple (, also called ''dàoguàn'' and , is a place where the Tao is observed and cultivated it is a place of worship in Taoism.
Structure and function can vary according to the Taoist school the temple belongs to. For example, ''guàn ...
*
Ci Shrine
References
{{Reflist
Mausoleums
Religious buildings and structures
Death customs
Pages with unreviewed translations
Vietnamese folk religion
Buildings and structures in Vietnam
Taoism
Temples
Temples in Chinese folk religion
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Traditional sacrificial buildings in East Asia