Heidi Norton
Incense burners have been used across the world for centuries, with the earliest vessels identified as censers dating back to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. Incense burners are containers, generally made of bronze or pottery and fitted with a perforated lid, in which incense, an aromatic biotic material, is burned to release a fragrant smoke. Incense burners have been used for a variety of purposes, including religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and as a deodorant or insect repellent. In some parts of East Asia, incense burners were also used as a way to tell the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A vessel for burning incense |
| Types | Direct-burning, Indirect-burning/Non-combustible |
| Use Cases | Religious ceremonies, Aromatherapy, Meditation, Perfuming, Deodorizing, Insect repellent, Personal hygiene |
| History | Used in China since 2000 BCE, Used in Japan since the 6th century |
| Materials | Bronze, Pottery, Porcelain, Ceramic, Plant materials, Essential oils |
| Forms | Sticks, Coils, Blocks, Chips |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burners are used for religious purposes, aromatherapy, and meditation
An incense burner is a vessel, often made of bronze or pottery, used to hold and burn incense. Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. Incense burners have been used for various purposes, including religious worship, aromatherapy, and meditation.
Religious Purposes
Incense burners have a long history of use in religious and spiritual practices. In ancient Egypt, incense was prominent in religious rituals, such as the daily liturgy before the sun god Amon-Re and mortuary rites. The Babylonians and ancient Israelites also used incense in their religious practices, and it was later adopted by the early Christian church. Incense has been an integral part of Hinduism, Buddhism, and traditional Chinese religion, where it is burned during festivals, initiations, daily rites, and ceremonial offerings.
Aromatherapy
Incense burners are used in aromatherapy, an age-old healing method that uses the aromatics derived from natural elements like plants. Aromatherapy aims to heal the mind, body, and spirit by stimulating the sense of smell. Incense made from materials such as lavender and sandalwood is believed to have stress and pain-relief properties, promoting calmness and focus, especially during meditation.
Meditation
Incense burners are often used during meditation practices to create a calming and soothing atmosphere. The fragrant smoke released by the burning incense can help enhance focus and internal reflection. In Buddhism, different types of incense with varying burn rates are used to time meditation and prayer sessions, with Zen Buddhists claiming that the incense also helps keep distracting insects away.
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Incense was first used in Ancient China around 2000 BCE
An incense burner is a vessel, often made of bronze or pottery, in which incense is burned. The modern Chinese term for "censer" or incense burner is "xianglu", derived from "xiang" meaning incense or aromatics, and "lu" meaning brazier, stove, or furnace.
Oracle bone inscriptions from the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1050 BCE) mention the use of aromatics in worship and ceremonial practices, as well as the creation of early forms of alcoholic drinks. By the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1050-250 BCE), an elaborate ceremony for the worship of the skies had evolved, with the burning of scented herbs and woods as a central element. The smoke was believed to carry the pleasing aroma upwards to the skies, where deities could enjoy the offerings.
During the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BCE-220 CE), the establishment of the Silk Road brought increased trade and acquisitions of foreign incense materials, and incense became more widely available in China. The hill censer, a type of incense burner with a pierced lid, became popular during this period. By the Tang Dynasty (c. 600-900 CE), incense had become a luxury good, deeply entrenched in palace and upper-class life. It was used for personal hygiene, romantic encounters, and deodorizing interiors.
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Incense burners are often made of bronze, pottery, or porcelain
An incense burner, also known as a censer, is a container in which incense is burned. Incense burners have been used in Europe, but they are more common in the East, particularly in China, where they were once considered an integral part of a person's spiritual and physical life.
Pottery was another material commonly used for incense burners, particularly in the form of pastille-burners, which were used for burning compressed mixtures of aromatic plant material and charcoal. These burners often had a shallow circular pan in the centre, with a pierced lid.
Porcelain was also used to create incense burners, with antique Chinese examples dating back to the 19th century. These burners were often elaborately designed, featuring decorative elements such as dragons.
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Incense was used to tell time in parts of East Asia
An incense burner is a vessel, often made of bronze or pottery, used to burn incense. They are also known as censers, with the modern Chinese term being 'xianglu' (香爐), a compound of 'xiang' (incense, aromatics) and 'lu' (爐, brazier/stove/furnace). Incense burners have been used in Europe, but they are far more common in the East.
Incense has been used in many parts of East Asia, including China and Japan, for a variety of purposes, from religious and ceremonial to practical and medicinal. One such use was as a timer. Before the invention of modern time-telling devices, ancient peoples used the natural world to communicate the time. The sun, water, and sand were all used, as well as fire and smoke through the burning of incense. This was known as an incense clock, and they were first used in China in the 6th century CE.
Incense clocks were used in temples, palaces, government offices, and the studies of scholars. They were also used in agricultural regions to regulate water for irrigation. The length of the trail of incense was the primary factor in determining how long the clock would last. The incense could be in the form of sticks or seals, with different scents marking the hours. The incense sticks could be straight or spiralled, with the latter being used for longer durations. One spiral was the equivalent of one night.
Incense sticks were also used to tell the time by marking increments on each stick, and they were placed in a ritual tripod vessel known as a 'ting'. During imperial coronations, incense sticks were used to time the ceremony.
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Incense burners are also known as censers
The use of incense burners dates back centuries, with the earliest vessels identified as censers dating to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. During the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), a type of incense burner known as a hill censer was popular. It featured a shallow circular pan with a pierced lid, designed to resemble the Daoist Isles of the Blest.
Incense burners have played a significant role in various cultures and religions. In ancient China, incense was used in religious ceremonies, traditional medicine, and daily life. It was introduced to Japan in the 6th century by Korean Buddhist monks, who employed it in their purification rites. During the T'ang period, incense was used by the upper class for personal hygiene, romantic encounters, and deodorizing indoor spaces.
Incense burners also hold symbolic and ritualistic significance. In Chinese alchemy, the incense burner is considered the point of origin for Waidan ("outer alchemy") and Neidan ("inner alchemy"), representing worship, sacrifice, ascending perfume, fire, transformation, and communication with spiritual beings. In some parts of East Asia, incense burners were even used as a simple mechanism to tell time.
The form and usage of incense burners vary across cultures. For instance, in Arab countries, incense is often burned in the form of scented chips or blocks called bakhoor, using a traditional burner called a mabkhara. Incense burners can be used for direct-burning incense, where the incense is lit directly by a flame, or indirect-burning incense, which requires a separate heat source as it is not capable of burning on its own.
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Frequently asked questions
An incense burner is a vessel used to burn incense.
Incense is a mixture of aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils.
Incense burners have been used for centuries, with the earliest vessels identified as censers dating back to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. In China during the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), a type of vessel known as a hill censer was used for burning incense.
Incense burners can be made from various materials such as bronze, pottery, or porcelain. They can also vary in shape and design, such as the square or circular vessels from the Ming dynasty, or the large bronze incense burners from 19th-century Japan.
Incense can be separated into two main types: "indirect-burning" and "direct-burning". Indirect-burning incense, also known as "non-combustible incense", requires a separate heat source as it cannot burn on its own. Direct-burning incense, or "combustible incense", is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out to produce a smoky fragrance.
