Chapter 6: The item catalogue · Part 7

Grounds

Gardens, trees, a fountain, gates and flagstaffs, and a playground: the lot around the building. Each stands outside, and each has its upkeep.

Dhvajastambha Evergreen tree Flower bed Fountain Garden bench Guardian lions Hedge Joss paper furnace Kadomatsu Kagura stage Komainu Lychgate Nishan Sahib Paifang Playground Prayer wheels Purification basin Shade tree Standing cross Sukkah Temple censer Torii

Dhvajastambha

Dhvajastambha $45,000

The temple's flagstaff, clad in gilded copper and set on a carved base before the main shrine: the festival flag is raised on it to open the temple's great days. Seen from the road. Four months to make and raise.

Footprint
1 × 1 m
Upkeep
$200 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Takes
4 months to make and install
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Offered to
Hindu traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

A Hindu temple's gilded flagstaff before the main shrine, where the festival flag is raised: on the grounds, 2% more visible, four months to make.

Across the 10 Hindu traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Dhvajastambha: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Evergreen tree

Evergreen tree $800

A blue spruce, green all through the winter. It grows slowly and asks little.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$60 a year
Looks
5 / 10
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Evergreen tree: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Flower bed

Flower bed $400

A raised bed of flowers by the path, replanted each spring and autumn.

Footprint
2 × 1 m
Upkeep
$150 a year
Looks
5 / 10
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Flower bed: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Fountain

Fountain $18,000

A tiered stone fountain in a round basin, the water pumped round and round. The pump, the cleaning, and draining it before the frost cost something every year.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$600 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Fountain: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Garden bench

Garden bench $650

A bench of hardwood slats on cast-iron ends: somewhere to sit outside after the service.

Footprint
2 × 1 m
Upkeep
$25 a year
Looks
3 / 10
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Garden bench: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Guardian lions

Guardian lions $15,000

A pair of stone lions on tall plinths either side of the doors: on one side the male with his paw on a ball, on the other the female with a cub. The way in runs between them.

Footprint
3 × 1 m
Upkeep
$40 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Chinese and Buddhist traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

A pair of stone lions flanking a Chinese temple's way in, walked between: a little more visible (+1%).

Across the 10 Chinese and Buddhist traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Guardian lions: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Back to top ↑

Hedge

Hedge $250

Two metres of clipped box hedge, to line a path or hide the bins. It wants trimming twice a year.

Footprint
2 × 1 m
Upkeep
$40 a year
Looks
3 / 10
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Hedge: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Joss paper furnace

Joss paper furnace $12,000

A brick furnace with a little tiled roof and a chimney, where joss paper is burnt: gold for the gods, silver for the ancestors, paper houses and clothes for the dead. On festival days it burns from morning to night, and the neighbours notice the smoke and ash.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$200 a year
Looks
6 / 10
Smoke
0.3 (neighbours mind)
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Chinese traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

Where paper offerings are burned, expected at a folk temple. It smokes (0.3), and in town the neighbours complain of it.

Across the 3 Chinese traditions: suits 1, jars with 0, neutral to 2, 1 expected.

Joss paper furnace: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Kadomatsu

Kadomatsu $400

Three cut bamboo stems with pine and plum in a straw-bound base, set in pairs either side of the gate to welcome the kami of the New Year. Put up before New Year and taken down after the first visits.

Footprint
1 × 1 m
Upkeep
$80 a year
Looks
5 / 10
Offered to
Shinto traditions
Traits
stands outdoors; seasonal: hatsumode, newYear, newYearVisits, toshikoshiNoOharae
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

Across the 3 Shinto traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Kadomatsu: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Kagura stage

Kagura stage $60,000

The kaguraden: an open stage under its own cypress roof, its back wall painted with a pine, where miko dance kagura for the kami and musicians play at festivals. Three months to build.

Footprint
4 × 3 m
Upkeep
$500 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Takes
3 months to make and install
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Offered to
Shinto traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

An open stage on a shrine's grounds for the miko's sacred dance: 2% more visible, three months to build.

Across the 3 Shinto traditions: suits 0, jars with 0, neutral to 3.

Kagura stage: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Komainu

Komainu $12,000

A pair of stone lion-dogs on their plinths either side of the approach, guarding the shrine: one with its mouth open, one with it shut, the first and last sounds. The path runs between them.

Footprint
3 × 1 m
Upkeep
$40 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Shinto traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The pair of lion-dogs guarding a shrine's approach, walked between: a little more visible (+1%).

Across the 3 Shinto traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Komainu: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Lychgate

Lychgate $22,000

A roofed gateway into the churchyard, where a coffin rested on its way to the church.

Footprint
3 × 2 m
Upkeep
$150 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Offered to
Christian traditions
Traits
stands outdoors

Across the 44 Christian traditions: suits 20, jars with 24.

Lychgate: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Back to top ↑

Nishan Sahib

Nishan Sahib $12,000

The tall flagpole every gurdwara flies, wrapped in its yellow (basanti) cloth, the chola, and topped with a steel khanda; the triangular flag bears the khanda too. Its cloth is changed and the pole washed each Vaisakhi. It marks the gurdwara from far off.

Footprint
1 × 1 m
Upkeep
$250 a year
Looks
7 / 10
Takes
1 months to make and install
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Offered to
Sikh traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The gurdwara's flagpole, in its basanti cloth: required, on the grounds. A little more visible (+2%).

Across the 1 Sikh traditions: suits 1, jars with 0, 1 required.

Nishan Sahib: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Gurdwara+0.5required
Paifang

Paifang $60,000

A ceremonial gateway of red posts and painted beams under three small roofs of glazed tile, the middle one highest, with the temple's name on a board between them: the gate that stands at the way into a Chinese temple, or a Chinatown. Walk through it on the way in. Six months to build.

Footprint
5 × 1 m
Upkeep
$400 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Takes
6 months to make and install
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Offered to
Chinese and Buddhist traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The Chinese gateway arch, on the grounds and walked through, for folk, Daoist, and Chinese Buddhist temples.

Across the 10 Chinese and Buddhist traditions: suits 0, jars with 0, neutral to 10.

Paifang: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Playground

Playground $38,000

A climbing tower, a slide, and three swings on deep bark mulch. Young families notice it from the road; the inspections, the mulch, and the repairs come round every year.

Footprint
6 × 4 m
Upkeep
$1,500 a year
Looks
3 / 10
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Playground: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Prayer wheels

Prayer wheels $9,000

A row of copper prayer wheels under a little roof, each filled with rolled mantras: people walk by clockwise turning each one, and every turn sends the prayer out.

Footprint
3 × 1 m
Upkeep
$120 a year
Looks
7 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Buddhist traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

A row of copper prayer wheels under a little roof on a Tibetan center's grounds, turned by passers-by: a little more visible (+1%).

Across the 7 Buddhist traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Prayer wheels: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Purification basin

Purification basin $15,000

The chozuya: a stone basin of running water under a little roof, with bamboo ladles laid across it. Visitors rinse the left hand, the right, and the mouth before they approach the kami. It needs plumbing.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$250 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Shinto traditions
Traits
needs a plumbing stack within 12 m; stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The purification basin under its roof, where visitors rinse their hands and mouth: required at a shrine, and it needs a plumbing stack within 12 m.

Across the 3 Shinto traditions: suits 1, jars with 0, neutral to 2, 1 required.

Purification basin: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Back to top ↑

Shade tree

Shade tree $1,200

A young oak, planted for the generations to come: shade for the picnic after the service, and leaves to rake every autumn.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$100 a year
Looks
6 / 10
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 80 traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Shade tree: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

TraditionFitRule
Acts 29—
African Methodist Episcopal Church—
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community—
American Baptist Churches USA—
Anglican Church in North America—
Arya Samaj—
Assemblies of God—
Association of Related Churches—
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—
Buddhist Churches of America—
Calvary Chapel—
Catholic Church—
Chabad-Lubavitch—
Chinese Buddhist temple—
Chinese folk temple—
Chinmaya Mission—
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ—
Christian Reformed Church in North America—
Church of Christ, Scientist—
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)—
Church of God in Christ—
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—
Church of the Brethren—
Church of the Nazarene—
Churches of Christ—
Community of Christ—
Community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed—
Conservative Judaism—
Coptic Orthodox Church—
Daoist temple—
The Episcopal Church—
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—
Free Methodist Church USA—
Friends United Meeting—
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—
Gurdwara—
Hindu temple—
Independent nondenominational church—
Indo-Caribbean mandir—
International Pentecostal Holiness Church—
International Society for Krishna Consciousness—
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation—
Jain center—
Jain Vishva Bharati—
Jehovah's Witnesses—
Konko Churches of North America—
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod—
Mennonite Church USA—
Modern Orthodox Judaism—
Moravian Church in America—
The Nation of Islam—
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.—
Orthodox Church in America—
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)—
Presbyterian Church in America—
Reconstructionist Judaism—
Reform Judaism—
Religious Society of Friends (Friends General Conference)—
The Salvation Army—
Self-Realization Fellowship—
Seventh-day Adventist Church—
Shinto shrine—
Soka Gakkai International-USA—
Soto Zen center—
Southern Baptist Convention—
Sri Sathya Sai Organization of USA—
Sunni Islamic Center—
Tenrikyo—
Theravada temple—
Tibetan Buddhist dharma center—
Twelver Shia Islamic Center—
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—
Unitarian Universalist Association—
United Church of Christ—
The United Methodist Church—
United Pentecostal Church International—
Vedanta Society—
Vietnamese Buddhist temple—
Vineyard USA—
Yiguandao (I-Kuan Tao)—
Standing cross

Standing cross $6,500

A tall white cross on a stone plinth by the road, so no one driving past wonders what the building is.

Footprint
1 × 1 m
Upkeep
$80 a year
Looks
6 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Christian traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
doesn't count (no distinct character)

Across the 44 Christian traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Standing cross: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Sukkah

Sukkah $2,500

A booth of wooden walls under a roof of cut branches, put up outside for the week of Sukkot: the congregation eats in it, and some sleep in it. It's out only for the festival.

Footprint
3 × 3 m
Upkeep
$200 a year
Looks
6 / 10
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Jewish traditions
Traits
stands outdoors; seasonal: sukkot
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

Out only for Sukkot, on the grounds: the one piece of seasonal decor outside the Christian church year. Through Sukkot a synagogue that owns one is dressed for the season (up to +0.04 × formality after each service), and one that doesn't is marked down as much; the rest of the year it counts for nothing. A little more visible (+1%).

Across the 5 Jewish traditions: no fit (it has no particular character).

Sukkah: fit with every tradition

It has no character of its own, so it counts for no tradition's building fit; rules still apply.

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Temple censer

Temple censer $15,000

The great bronze censer outside the doors, on three legs under its own little roof: the first incense goes here, and on New Year's Eve the crowd presses round it to plant the first sticks of the year. Its smoke drifts over the street.

Footprint
2 × 2 m
Upkeep
$150 a year
Looks
8 / 10
Smoke
0.1 (neighbours mind)
Visibility
+1% new visitors
Offered to
Chinese and Buddhist traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The great bronze censer where visitors plant their incense: expected at folk and Daoist temples. It smokes (0.1): the neighbours notice.

Across the 10 Chinese and Buddhist traditions: suits 2, jars with 0, neutral to 8, 2 expected.

Temple censer: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Torii

Torii $18,000

The vermilion gate of a shrine: two posts, a tie beam (the nuki), and a top beam (the kasagi) curving up at its ends. Passing under it, people leave the everyday world for the kami's; most bow before they step through. Walk through it on the way in. Two months to make and raise.

Footprint
3 × 1 m
Upkeep
$200 a year
Looks
7 / 10
Takes
2 months to make and install
Visibility
+2% new visitors
Offered to
Shinto traditions
Traits
stands outdoors
Building fit
counts in its own faiths' traditions where their rules name it (+0.5 expected or required, −1 discouraged or forbidden); otherwise left out

The shrine's gate, required: on the grounds, walked through on the way in. A little more visible (+2%).

Across the 3 Shinto traditions: suits 1, jars with 0, neutral to 2, 1 required.

Torii: fit with every tradition

Fit runs from −1 (jars) to +1 (just right); a rule applies wherever the item is.

Back to top ↑