Zen Palace (Size: 3.5" W x 3.5" D x 7.5" T)

The Zen Palace is one of nine miniature sculptures from the Luminiart Collection.  Click here to see images of the entire collection on the Artist's website. 

The Zen Palace illuminated sculpture was modeled after ritual temples found in every Japanese municipality, with large cultural centers like Kyoto having several thousand. “Zen Palace” is not an exact replica of a particular shrine, but it does incorporate the architectural details and softness of color characteristic of Buddhist temples.Interestingly, the great majority of Japanese people profess little faith in Buddha or any of the 16 million Shinto gods. But when they visit a temple, they will likely perform a ceremonial hand washing, throw coins at the altar, whisper prayers at a ritual fountain, pull a thick rope to sound a deep resonant gong, or read their Omikuji fortune, all done in a surprisingly natural way.Perhaps it is the temple setting that brings out one’s spirituality. Japanese temples function much like miniature national parks, providing refuge. Typically you must climb many stairs, and sometimes mountains, to reach the shrine. Meditation gardens with hanging flowers, fountains, rockery, water and stepping-stones are found outside and within the temple. The architecture is lavish yet simple, with tile roofs, richly lacquered embroidered columns, friezes with high relief floral and geometric patterning, and beautiful pagodas that house relics of Buddha. Bells, drums, gongs, and soft light emitting through doorways add to the sensory experience.We invite your imagination to travel to Japan and to become a believer in all things calming and purifying. 3.5" x 3.5" x 7.5"