Antonio Mcgowan
Incense burners have been used for centuries in various cultures for domestic, ceremonial, and religious purposes. They are containers, usually made of fireproof materials like stone, ceramic, or metal, in which incense is burned to release its fragrance. Incense burners come in different designs, such as the traditional Chinese hill censer, which is believed to depict a sacred mountain, and the Japanese koro, often used in tea ceremonies. The type of burner and incense depends on personal preference, with options including sticks, cones, coils, and loose mixtures. Incense burners are an essential part of rituals, ceremonies, and religious practices, playing a role in creating a fragrant and atmospheric environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To burn incense for domestic, ceremonial, or religious use |
| Types | Direct-burning, Indirect-burning/non-combustible, Backflow/waterfall, Pastille, Sticks, Cones, Coils, Loose mixtures, Resins, Powders, Pure woods |
| Materials | Fireproof materials such as stone, ceramic, metal, bronze, pottery, porcelain, clay, earthenware, or adobe |
| Design | Varies, can be simple or elaborate with decorations and religious symbols; traditional designs include the Chinese hill censer and Japanese koro and egōro |
| Use | Place incense directly on a heat source or hot metal plate; for backflow incense, place in a cone shape with a small, hollow tunnel in the centre |
| Cleaning | Use a vacuum or dustpan and broom to clean up ashes; sprinkle water on ashes before cleaning to reduce mess |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burner types and materials
Incense burners are available in a variety of types and materials. The type of burner you choose depends on the form of incense you prefer, be it sticks, cones, coils, loose mixtures, resins, powders, or pure woods.
Types of Incense Burners
Incense burners can be broadly categorized into stick burners, cone burners, and coil holders.
- Stick burners are designed to hold incense sticks upright or at an angle. They often feature a narrow hole or groove to secure the stick and collect its ash. They can be made from wood, metal, or ceramic.
- Cone burners have a hollow surface to accommodate the shape of the cone and collect its ash. They are usually made of metal or ceramic.
- Coil holders typically have spiral designs or hooks that support the coil structure.
Other types of incense burners include:
- Incense fountains or waterfalls, which are often used with incense cones.
- Metal or ceramic bowls, which can be used for a variety of incense types, including sticks, coils, cones, and loose incense.
- Incense stoves, which are candle or electric-based and are used to heat single woods, loose resin, or powdered incense mixtures without causing them to smoke.
Materials Used for Incense Burners
Incense burners can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, ceramic, stone, and clay. In the past, incense burners were also made from pottery, porcelain, Adobe, plumbate, and earthenware.
It is important to use a fireproof material when selecting an incense burner, such as stone, ceramic, or metal. Fillers like ash, sand, crushed rock, or sea salt can also be used in the burner to reduce heat absorption and enhance safety.
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How to light and put out incense
Lighting incense is a simple process, but it's important to prioritise safety and choose high-quality, natural incense. Incense is available in stick or cone form, and you can light it either by holding it or by placing it in an incense burner.
To light the incense, hold a flame to the stick or cone until it ignites. You can use a match or a lighter, and ensure the flame is visible and burning for a few seconds. Then, gently fan or blow out the flame. If you see a small glowing ember and a wisp of smoke, the incense is lit. If not, you may need to repeat the process.
Once the incense is burning, it's important to stay attentive and ensure it is safely contained in a holder, away from flammable objects and out of reach of children and pets. Incense sticks release a lot of smoke, so burn them in a well-ventilated room, away from drafts.
To extinguish the incense, carefully monitor the amount that is left. When you are ready to end the session, use a designated snuffer or gently tap the burning end onto a fireproof surface to ensure the ember is fully extinguished. Check that the remnants are cool to the touch before discarding them.
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History of incense burners
The use of incense burners is deeply rooted in spiritual practice and religious ceremonies, with a history that can be traced back to ancient civilizations. Incense burners have played a significant role in various cultures, particularly in the East, where they are valued for their aesthetic and symbolic significance in addition to their practical use.
In ancient civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia, incense burners were integral to funerary practices and religious ceremonies. For example, in ancient Egypt, kyphi incense was used for purification rituals and to guide souls to the afterlife. One of the oldest extant incense burners originates from the 5th dynasty in Egypt, and the Temple of Deir-el-Bahari in Egypt contains carvings that depict an expedition for incense. Resin balls and traces of fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh have also been discovered in many prehistoric Egyptian tombs.
Incense burners have also been found in the Indus Civilization, and evidence suggests that oils were used for their aroma. The oldest textual source on incense is the Vedas, specifically the Atharvaveda and the Rigveda. The use of incense spread from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to Greece and Rome, and later to other regions of the world.
Incense burners have a long history in China, dating back to Neolithic times, and have been discovered in archaeological sites approximately 6000 years ago. The earliest documented evidence of the use of incense is in ancient China, where it was made from blends of herbs and plants such as cinnamon and sandalwood. The first incense burners date back approximately 5000 years, with a bamboo-patterned clay incense burner unearthed from the Shanghai Qingpu district's Neolithic Fuquan Shan site. By the end of the Eastern Zhou period, also known as the Warring States Period (c. 475-250 BCE), incense burner designs became more sophisticated, and the iconic Boshan Lu or Boshan incense burners were introduced during this time.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), incense burners known as hill censers were used. These consisted of a shallow circular pan with a pierced lid constructed as a three-dimensional representation of the Daoist Isles of the Blest. The Ming dynasty (1368–1644) saw the creation of incense burners in two basic forms: a square vessel on four feet with two handles and a pierced lid, and a circular tripod vessel with a perforated lid. The Tang dynasty (581-907 CE) produced some magnificent incense burners, including a gold-gilded silver five-footed incense burner discovered in the Famen Temple in Shaanxi.
In Japan, incense appreciation includes art, culture, history, and ceremony, with kōdō (香道) being the art of incense appreciation. Agarwood and sandalwood are the two most important ingredients in Japanese incense. In the 19th century, large bronze incense burners with decorative designs, often incorporating dragons, were made for export from Japan.
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Incense burners in different cultures
The use of incense burners is prevalent across many cultures and has been for centuries. The earliest vessels identified as censers date to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. The use of incense burners has been associated with both practical purposes and spiritual practices.
China
The modern Chinese term for "censer" is xianglu ("incense burner"), derived from xiang ("incense, aromatics") and lu ("brazier; stove; furnace"). The hill censer, or boshanlu, became popular during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (141–87 BCE). These burners were designed with openings that made the rising smoke appear like mist swirling around a mountain peak. Chinese porcelain incense holders often incorporated designs from Persian art due to trade along the Silk Road.
India
Incense burners are used in India everywhere from places of worship to homes and workplaces. Incense is used in every Puja and other forms of worship, and Indians believe that the scent of purity of the incense drives out bad spirits.
Japan
Incense burners are prevalent in Japan, from homes and offices to temples and stores. The Japanese use incense for driving out negative energy, cleansing, and connecting to their inner beings. The koro is a Japanese censer often used in tea ceremonies, usually made from pottery, porcelain, or bronze. A similar censer called the egōro is used by several Buddhist sects, where makkō powder is burned instead of charcoal.
Thailand
Thailand is one of the oldest countries to incorporate the use of incense in its culture. The Thai use incense for personal healing purposes, beyond just in places of worship.
Mesoamerica
Incense burners were used domestically and ceremonially in Mesoamerica, particularly in Teotihuacan and in the many kingdoms belonging to the Maya civilization. The burners were typically made from locally sourced materials such as Adobe, plumbate, and earthenware, and were decorated with symbols of religious significance.
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Cleaning and maintenance of incense burners
Cleaning and maintaining your incense burner is important to ensure optimal performance and preserve its condition. Here are some detailed instructions for cleaning and maintaining incense burners:
Cleaning Incense Burners:
- Cooling Down: Before cleaning, it is important to let the incense burner cool down after use. Allow a few minutes for the burner and incense ash to cool down to a temperature slightly above room temperature. This will ensure that the oily residue left behind is still a little runny, making it easier to clean.
- Disposing of Incense Ash: The first step is to carefully dispose of the incense ash. The burnt incense cone often retains its shape, so attempting to pick it up can result in ash falling everywhere. A suggested method is to quickly tip the incense burner so that the ash falls into a trash bin. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum to suck up the ash.
- Removing Oil and Resin Build-Up: Incense burners, especially cone incense burners, tend to accumulate oil and resin build-up on the plate that holds the incense. This build-up can interfere with the proper burning of new incense cones. To clean this residue, you can use a degreasing solvent like carburetor cleaner or natural solvents like alcohol or turpentine. Soak a cloth or cotton ball with the solvent and wipe down the affected areas. For metal plates, baking soda or toothpaste with baking soda can also be effective.
- Cleaning the Firepot: The firepot, where charcoal is placed, should be thoroughly scraped out after each use to maintain optimal performance and improve the scent of the incense.
- Polishing: For incense burners made of materials like brass, chrome, copper, silver, or gold, regular polishing is recommended to maintain their shine. You can use specific polishes like Brasso, Simichrome, Wright's, Weiman, or Hagerty, depending on the material of your burner. Polishing cloths impregnated with polish are available for both brass and precious metals.
Maintenance Tips:
- Regular Cleaning: To prevent excessive build-up, it is recommended to clean backflow incense burners once every 2-3 uses.
- Avoid Abrasives: When cleaning incense burners, avoid using abrasive materials or tools as they may scratch the surface.
- Lacquer Removal: If your incense burner has a lacquer coating, you can remove it by soaking the burner overnight in paint remover (acetone) or using turpentine to loosen and remove incense residue.
By following these cleaning and maintenance instructions, you can keep your incense burner in pristine condition, ensuring its proper function and enhancing your incense-burning experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense burners are containers, generally made of fireproof materials such as stone, ceramic, or metal, in which incense is burned. They are used to gently heat single woods, loose resin, or powdered incense mixtures.
Incense burners come in various types, including incense stoves, koro, egōro, incense fountains, and waterfalls. They also vary in shape and size, from small decorative ones to large fountains with attached ash catchers.
The use of an incense burner depends on the type of incense. For direct-burning incense, burn pieces of incense by placing them directly on a heat source or on a hot metal plate in a censer or thurible. For indirect-burning incense, also called "non-combustible incense," use a separate heat source as it does not generally kindle a fire capable of burning itself.
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