PAGODE Meaning and
Definition
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Pagode is a term that originated in the Portuguese language and refers to a genre of music from Brazil. Derived from the term "pagoda," the word "pagode" is often associated with the Afro-Brazilian cultural movement. It characterizes a specific style of Brazilian popular music that emerged in the late 1970s and gained significant popularity throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Pagode is primarily performed by small groups, typically featuring vocals, cavaquinho (a small four-stringed guitar-like instrument), percussion instruments such as pandeiro (a type of tambourine), and sometimes a few additional instruments like the banjo and tambourine. This music style often includes joyful and energetic melodies, lively rhythms, and harmonies that exhibit the influences of samba and Brazilian pagode de mesa (table pagode) traditions.
Furthermore, "pagode" can also refer to a type of traditional Chinese architecture. In this sense, it denotes a multi-tiered tower with curved eaves that are often found in Chinese Buddhist and Taoist temples. The term "pagode" is rooted in the Sanskrit word "bhagavati," which signifies "dwelling place of a deity" or "holy place."
In conclusion, "pagode" is a versatile term with distinct meanings across different cultures. Whether referring to a genre of Brazilian music or a type of Chinese architectural structure, the term captures elements of cultural expression and religious symbolism.
Etymology of PAGODE
The word "pagode" is derived from the Portuguese word "pagode", which, in turn, was borrowed from the Tamil word "pācoṭṭi". Tamil is a Dravidian language predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The term "pācoṭṭi" refers to a temple or shrine structure, often associated with the Hindu religion. Portuguese sailors and explorers encountered these temples during their travels to Southeast Asia and India in the 16th century. As a result, they adapted the Tamil term "pācoṭṭi" into "pagode" and used it to refer to the temples they encountered. Over time, the term "pagode" came to be associated with various types of Asian temples and religious structures beyond just those found in Tamil Nadu.
