Lance Carson
Incense has been used for thousands of years in religious and spiritual ceremonies, as well as for medicinal and aesthetic purposes. The vessel used to burn incense is called a censer, incense burner, perfume burner, or pastille burner. Censers can be made from a variety of materials, including earthenware, porcelain, metal, gold, and silver, and can range in size from small bowls to large, intricately carved vessels. In religious contexts, the term thurible is often used to refer to the incense burner, especially in Christian churches. The use of incense and censers is prevalent in many cultures and religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Thurible, Censer, Incense Burner, Incense Holder |
| Description | A vessel made for burning incense or perfume in solid form |
| Usage | Used in religious ceremonies and prayers to symbolise "cleansing and purification" |
| Design | May consist of simple earthenware bowls or intricate gold vessels with openwork to allow airflow |
| Incense Types | Direct-burning incense, Indirect-burning incense (non-combustible) |
| Religious Usage | Used in Christian churches, Taoist and Buddhist temples, Hindu religious ceremonies, and traditional Japanese tea ceremonies |
| Biblical References | The Book of Exodus, The New Testament, The Talmud |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense burners, or censers, are used in many cultures and religions
- Incense is burned during worship services in Christian churches
- Incense is used in the Catholic Church for liturgical rites and devotions
- Incense is offered to gods and used for religious purification
- Incense is burned in the home using a censer or incense holder
Incense burners, or censers, are used in many cultures and religions
Incense burners, or censers, are vessels made for burning incense or perfume in solid form. They have been used in various cultures and religions since ancient times. The term "censer" is often used for pieces made for religious use, while "perfume burner" or "pastille burner" is used for secular objects. Incense burners come in various sizes, forms, and materials, ranging from simple earthenware bowls to intricately carved silver or gold vessels.
In many cultures, burning incense has spiritual and religious connotations, influencing the design and decoration of the censer. For example, in Chinese history, the oldest censers date back to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. Early Chinese censers were crafted in the shape of a round, single-footed stemmed basin, believed to be derived from earlier ritual bronze items such as the sacrificial chalice. One of the most celebrated early incense burner designs is the hill censer, which became popular during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. These elaborate vessels were designed so that the rising incense smoke appeared like clouds or mist swirling around a mountain peak.
Incense burners have also been used in religious rituals in China, India, Egypt, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. In Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, incense sticks are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash.
Incense burners are also used in Christian churches, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations. The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible and carries symbolic meanings such as "cleansing and purification." The thurible, a type of censer, is used to contain burning incense during worship services.
In summary, incense burners, or censers, have been used in various cultures and religions throughout history, with designs and purposes varying across different traditions.
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Incense is burned during worship services in Christian churches
Incense has been used in Christian worship since antiquity, with the practice rooted in earlier Jewish traditions dating from the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The use of incense in Christian churches is symbolic of "cleansing and purification", with its fragrance also suggesting "Christ's robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind.
The burning of incense in Christian worship services is often done using a thurible (or censer), a metal incense burner suspended from chains. The person who carries the thurible is called a thurifer. The thurifer places incense in the thurible, blesses it with the Sign of the Cross, and then swings it towards what or who is being censed. This can include the bread and wine offered for the Eucharist, the consecrated Eucharist itself, the Gospel during its proclamation, the crucifix, the icons, the clergy, the congregation, the Paschal candle, or the body of a deceased person during a funeral.
The use of incense in Christian worship is also inspired by passages in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to build an altar of incense to stand next to the altar of sacrifice. In the New Testament, there are several typological references to incense, including a Christological reference to the coals from the altar of incense taken behind the veil on the Day of Atonement. The smoke of incense in the tabernacle is often interpreted as signifying offered prayer.
Incense is used in various Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, Old Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches. The frequency of incense use varies among these denominations, with some using it at virtually every service, while others use it only at specific points during the service or for special occasions.
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Incense is used in the Catholic Church for liturgical rites and devotions
Incense has been used in Christian worship since antiquity, and its use in prayer and worship carries symbolic significance. In the Catholic Church, incense is burned during liturgical rites and devotions, with its usage dating back to the early Church and the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven.
The use of incense in Catholic liturgical rites is quite common and holds symbolic value. Incense is often used during the entrance procession at the beginning of Mass, as well as during the procession and proclamation of the Gospel. It is also employed at the offertory to incense the offerings, altar, priest, and congregation. Additionally, incense may be used at the elevation of the Sacred Host and chalice of Precious Blood after consecration. During funeral Masses, the priest incenses the coffin as a sign of honour to the deceased and as a symbol of the faithful's prayers for their soul.
The type of incense used in Catholic rites is typically a blend, often including frankincense (gum olibanum), myrrh, benzoin, and other aromatic ingredients. The incense is burned in a thurible, a metal incense burner suspended from chains, carried by a server called a thurifer. The thurifer may be assisted by a "boat bearer", who carries the "boat", a small metal container holding the incense.
The act of incensing holds devotional significance, expressing reverence and love for the holy words and the Saviour. It is believed to connect the worship on earth with the worship of heaven, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and mystery. The sweet-smelling smoke is symbolic of purification and sanctification, representing the cleansing of sins and the righteousness of Christ.
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Incense is offered to gods and used for religious purification
In the Hindu tradition, incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama. This practice is still common in modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide. In Japanese Shinto shrines, incense sticks are placed horizontally into censers, and the delicate scents of Koh (high-quality Japanese incense) were a source of amusement for nobles in the Imperial Court during the Heian Era.
Incense is also used in Taoist and Buddhist temples, where the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, hung from the ceiling or on special stands. In Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta by Mandaean priests to establish communion between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death masses.
The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Ancient China also employed incense in formalized ceremonial rites, with its usage peaking during the Song dynasty. The ancient Egyptians used combustible bouquets, and incense burners have been found in the Indus Civilization.
The vessel used for burning incense is called a censer, incense burner, perfume burner, or pastille burner. They vary in size, form, and material, ranging from simple earthenware bowls to intricately carved gold vessels. A thurible is a type of censer used to burn incense during Christian worship services. It is a metal incense burner suspended from chains.
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Incense is burned in the home using a censer or incense holder
Censers are vessels made for burning incense or perfume in solid form and have been used throughout the world since ancient times. They come in various sizes, forms, and materials, ranging from simple earthenware bowls or fire pots to intricately carved silver or gold vessels. Many designs incorporate openwork to facilitate airflow. The term "censer" is often used specifically for pieces made for religious purposes, especially those on chains that are swung to spread the incense smoke widely.
Incense burners are used in religious ceremonies and prayers, with the incense itself symbolizing "cleansing and purification," as well as the "robe of righteousness" that covers the sin of humankind. In some cultures, incense is offered to divine beings and deities, with fire priests overseeing the rituals. The burning of incense is also believed to have psychotropic effects, relieving anxiety and fostering feelings of peace and hope.
For home use, incense can be burned using small, concave charcoal briquettes. The briquette is lit at one corner, placed in the censer, and then extinguished. Once the glowing sparks have spread across the briquette, incense can be placed on top. Direct-burning incense involves igniting the tip or end of the incense with a flame, then blowing out the flame and allowing the incense to continue burning without a flame. Indirect-burning incense, also known as non-combustible incense, requires a separate heat source, such as charcoal or glowing embers, as it does not easily ignite on its own.
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Frequently asked questions
It is called a censer, incense burner, perfume burner, or pastille burner.
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons.
Censers are used to burn incense during religious ceremonies and prayers. They are also used for acts of religious purification and to communicate with the gods.
Censers can vary greatly in size, form, and material of construction. They can be simple earthenware bowls or fire pots, or intricately carved silver or gold vessels. In Catholic ceremonies, the censer is called a thurible, which is a metal incense burner suspended from chains.
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