The Kishwar (Buddleja incana) as a Symbol and Agent of Religiosity in the Andean World (Phase 2)

This project addresses the persistence of the sacred link with the Andean tree kishwar (Buddleja incana) in the central highlands of Ecuador, specifically concerning the "Lord of the Tree" images carved from its wood in the mid-17th century. The central problem lies in how this plant entity has maintained its symbolic importance and role as an agent of religiosity, surviving centuries of idolatry eradication efforts. Complexity is heightened by the central role of the tree's roots in its veneration and the influence of its growing location on its symbolism. The methodology combines historical research, analyzing primary sources (Episcopal and National History Archives) and secondary sources (chronicles and devotional books), with the ethnographic method. Ethnographic work includes fieldwork, journaling, informal conversations, and recordings to understand how devotees link the kishwar with the devotion to the crucified Christ. The findings aim to clarify this religious reprogramming and the coexistence of pre- and post-Eucharistic rituals that demonstrate the tree's continuous veneration.<br/><br/><b>Goal</b>: <br/>The main objective is to explain the cultural and religious translation process that allowed the kishwar (Buddleja incana), as a sacred entity, to integrate and persist within the context of Catholic worship in Andean temples, despite colonial efforts to eradicate it.<br/><br/><b>Research lines</b>: <br/>agrarian history