Spectacle Attractions and Buddhism in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Misemono is a Japanese term meaning “spectacle attraction” or delightful distraction – a wonderful place for purposeless delight. Misemono were historically designed for Buddhist temple and local festivals. They also brought social and religious capital to the designers, and for some, the hope of profits. This paper looks at several examples of modern Buddhist architecture in Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam which could be seen as misemono and offers new ways of understanding architecture, leisure, entertainment, and religion in the region.