An Explanation on the Mutual Role of Culture and Art in the Ritual Architecture of the Takayas of Mazandaran

The existing structures in society are interrelated. Ritual art is the objective manifestation of culture, religious ideologies and popular beliefs of the social activist. Takaya architecture is a mirror of the Shiite artist's traditions of thought, speech and action in relation to "time and place". Ritual architecture is an art mixed with culture, hence, the art of Takaya is a native architecture and the manifestation of history, race, art, climate, Shiite religion, tradition, identity and culture of the people of Mazandaran. Analyzing the criteria of culture and the importance of ritual art, in addition to expressing the values ​​of Takaya architecture, can provide design guidelines for designers to create a higher quality space. Using the richness of ecology and cultural geography of Mazandaran, the present study has dealt with the interaction of ritual culture and art to narrate the sufferings of Imam Hussein (PBUH), his family, his companions and the mourning rituals of Ashura in the Takaya architecture. This research is of qualitative type which has been accomplished by the means of a historical-interpretive method and information is gathered in the form of documents and field analysis; moreover descriptive-analytical and comparative methods have been used in data analysis. The statistical population of the study is a number of nine participants from Amol city. The results show that the criteria of culture (power structure, social status, kinship edifice, endowment, vows, age and gender of the user of space) and the local rituals of the people of Mazandaran (Divan, paddy field, Zan Shahi, Barf Chal, Vavarun, Shilan) and artistic ceremonies that include ritual painting (Saqanfar paintings), ritual architecture (Takaya) and ritual representation (Taziyeh) have had a reciprocal effect on reviving, perpetuating, adapting and promoting each other. Culture has had a great impact on architecture and in return, architecture has been one of the influential factors on culture.

1. Recognition of ritual art and cultural standards in the native architecture of Takaya Mazandaran. 2. Investigation of the effect of ritual culture and art on the arrangement of elements of Takaya ritual architecture.

Research questions: 

1. What are the effective criteria of culture on the architecture of Takaya Mazandaran? 2. What is the relationship between ritual culture and architecture, ceremonial representation and ritual painting?