Snapshot by Kirby Hastings

Content Area 8

Title: Taj Mahal Artist/Culture: Shan Jahan (emperor of Mughal dynasty) Medium: White marbleCreation date: 1632-53Creator’s Origin/location: Agra, India

★ Shan Jahan built this in honor of his favorite wives who died of childbirth of her 14th child…

○ He was so upset about her death that he decided to make the Taj Mahal her burial grounds for her to rest and it was originally was called Luminous Tomb (from the Mughal texts)

★ The Sunni Muslims were known to having simple, open tombs (open to the sky) so the taj mahal is different

○ Not unique in this aspect though because many Mughal buildings were built this way (domed tomb)

○ IS unique in the fact that the decorations are so over the top and ornate and GIGANTIC scale

★ Built in Agra because that’s where Shan first came into rule (1628)○ The city was invaded by Muslims who helped transform into a successful trading

center○ Known as the “riverfront garden city” because of its location on the coast of the

Yamuna River, and multiple, beautiful gardens all over the city★ The taj mahal is basically a complex and in the forefront entrance, small shops existed

back in the 16th century○ decorated red sandstone laid in the ground showing wealth and symmetry○ Long water channel leading to the entrance of the main building and “Taj” which

is on top of a platform○ Twin buildings are on either side of the tomb, made of the same red sandstone in

the ground path to the entrance. One of them is a mosque, the other is simply there for symmetry

○ The dome on top is surrounded by four minarets (usually tied to mosques in the islamic religion) but are purely decorative, in this case. This represents just how much the Mughals focused on aesthetics

★ Eight Levels of Paradise (hasht bishist)○ 8 halls and side rooms which come to get together to connect at the main room○ CROSS-AXIAL PLAN○ The main chamber contains a marble cenotaph on a platform (right above the

coffin that held the wife’s body)

■ When Shan died, he had his body laid in a cenotaph next to hers. Both were the shape of an octagon of white marble which scenes were carved into

★ Into the walls of the buildings, verses from the Quran were carved ○ The carvings were of flowers, to represent paradise○ Walls were adorned with inlaid stones like coral, onyx, carnelian, amethyst, and

lapis lazuli★ Architecture of building

○ Referred to as the best architectural creation in the world of indo-islamic architecture

○ Uses islamic traditional styles but mainly indigenous techniques■ Umbrella shaped chhatris= dome-shaped pavilions

○ Typically, mughal buildings were made of all red-stone such as military forts but for honorary buildings like tombs, white marble was used

○ Red represented the warriors and white= priests, pure class○ Basically a huge garden (char bagh) and these would be divided into four

sections with a main building in the center but the Taj Mahal does not follow this pattern

■ The taj mahal is off by the end of the complex beside the Yamuna river○ Waterways and fountains weaved throughout the gardens

■ New technique used by Babur from India, Shan’s great great grandfather■ Not possible to determine the designer of the garden layout/plantings

★ Creators○ Mir Abd Al-Karim was the lead architect○ Abdul Haqq= calligrapher○ Ustad Ahmad Lahauri=supervisor

★ “Symbol of Love”○ When his wife died, he withdrew from society and refused to attend court events○ HOWEVER, this was built in memory of his wife, some theories claim that the Taj

Mahal is not dependent on being a tomb■ Representation of the divine throne on the Day of Judgment■ OR another theory is that is a mimic of a house of paradise and that the

Taj Mahal is something Shan built in vain, as if to show off his power★ Shan arrested

○ He died a prisoner and did not even get to enjoy his creation in all its glory

Resources★ https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-islam/islamic-art-late-period/a/the-taj-

mahal★ http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/252 ★ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal