Glossary Chapter 17 Buddha An enlightened man. Calligraphy Beautiful handwriting; penmanship; ornamental writing, as with a pen or brush. Conceptual space Space that is depicted as conceptualized by the artist rather than in realistic perspective. Corbel A supportive, bracket-shaped piece of metal, stone, or wood. Fetish figure An object believed to have magical powers. Gate In the lost-wax technique one of a number of wax rods connected to the mold. As molten bronze flows into the mold, gates allow air to escape. Haniwa A hollow ceramic figure placed at an ancient Japanese burial plot. Hypostyle In architecture, a structure whose roof is supported by rows of piers or columns. Imam The leader of gatherings for Islamic worship. Ka figure An image of a body in which the ancient Egyptians believed that the soul would dwell after death. Lost-wax technique A bronze-casting process in which an initial mold is made from a model (usually clay) and filled with molten wax. A second, fire-resistant mold is made from the wax, and molten bronze is cast in it. Mandala In the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, a circular design symbolizing the wholeness or unity of life. Mihrab A niche in the wall of a mosque that faces Mecca and thus provides a focus of worship. Minaret A high, slender tower of a mosque from which Muslims are called to prayer. Muezzin In Islam, a crier who calls Muslims to prayer at the proper hours, as from a minaret. Nirvana In Buddhist belief, a state of perfect blessedness in which the individual soul is absorbed into the supreme spirit. Register A horizontal segment of a work of art or structure. Seal A design or stamp placed on a document as a sign of authenticity. Shinto A major religion of Japan, which emphasizes nature and ancestor worship. Shiva The Hindu god of destruction and reproduction. Stupa A dome-shaped Buddhist shrine. Terra cotta A hard, reddish-brown earthenware that is used in sculpture and pottery, and usually left unglazed.