shrinebased

Shrinebased is a term used to describe social, religious, or organizational phenomena organized around sacred shrines. In anthropology and religious studies, shrinebased practices center on the physical or conceptual shrine as the hub of community life, ritual action, and memory. Shrines may be dedicated to deities, saints, ancestors, or local spirits and can range from permanent temples to household altars or roadside enclosures.

Key features include frequent rituals, offerings, and pilgrimages; custodians or shrine committees responsible for maintenance and ritual scheduling; seasonal festivals; and the production of localized sacred geography, maps, and oral histories. The approach emphasizes how shrine spaces shape social relations, authority, and collective identity. Economic and social roles include donors, volunteers, artisans, and guides; preservation of intangible heritage; and conflicts over use, access, or modernization.

Digital dimension: some shrinebased communities maintain online altars, virtual pilgrimages, or social media groups to coordinate events and preserve traditions. In scholarly discourse, shrinebased is used to analyze how sacred space structures social identity, authority, and place-making, as well as how communities negotiate tradition with changing cultural and legal landscapes. Examples of shrinebased practice can be observed in household shrines, village sanctuaries, and public pilgrimage sites across various regions.