Heidi Norton
Incense burners have been used in Europe, but they have been more prevalent in the East, especially in China, where they hold a rich history that reflects the evolution of culture and spirituality. The purpose of incense burners in Europe was largely religious, with the early Christian church using incense in ceremonial practices. In China, incense burners emerged as a practical means to combat dampness and mould, evolving into artistic representations of beliefs and later becoming a meditative practice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To burn incense, which is an aromatic biological material that produces fragrant smoke when burned |
| Use in Europe | Used in Europe since at least 601 BC, when it was imported from Arabia via the Incense Route |
| Use in Christianity | Used in the early Christian church since the 4th century AD for eucharistic ceremonials |
| Use in China | Used in China since the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) to combat dampness and mould |
| Use in Japan | Used in Japan since the 6th century AD, and adopted by Samurai warriors in the 14th century |
| Materials | Clay, bronze, silver, silver-gilt, porcelain, or ceramic |
| Shapes | Mountain-shaped, tripod vessels, square vessels, circular pans |
| Design Features | Perforated lids, handles, intricate designs, lotus, flames, clouds, animal motifs |
| Cultural Significance | Symbolism, religious practice, aesthetic beauty, cultural heritage, social status, taste |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burners in Christian ceremonies
Incense burners have been used in Europe, but they are more common in the East. Incense burners in Christian ceremonies are often made from metal, brass, bronze, silver, gold, wood, or ceramic. The material used influences both the burner's aesthetic and functionality. Metals, for instance, are good heat conductors, ensuring the incense burns evenly. On the other hand, wood and ceramic burners produce a softer scent release, making them ideal for less resinous incenses.
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible. Incense is mentioned frequently in the Hebrew Scriptures. In the Gospel, for instance, Zechariah is in the temple at the time of the incense offering (Luke 1), and the gifts the Magi offered to the Christ Child included gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The clouds of incense represent cleansing and purification, and the sweet smell suggests Christ's robe of righteousness, which covers our sin.
Incense burners are used in various Christian ceremonies. For instance, during Benedictions and Adorations, incense serves as a symbol of reverence and devotion to the Holy Eucharist. In processions, priests, deacons, and altar servers carefully manage the thurible as they move through the church or outdoors. The incense used in these ceremonies is often frankincense or myrrh, chosen to convey reverence and solemnity.
The Roman Missal, revised in 1969, allows the use of incense at any Mass. Incense may be burned at the entrance procession, at the beginning of Mass to incense the cross and the altar, at the Gospel procession and proclamation, and after the bread and the chalice have been placed upon the altar. Incense is also burned during the consecration of the altar by a bishop in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.
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Incense burners in ancient Egypt
Incense burners have been an important part of Egypt's history and culture for millennia. The burning of incense was central to the worship of the gods and goddesses of Ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians believed that incense was the "fragrance of the gods", and it was used in various rituals and ceremonies performed in temples.
The ancient Egyptians burned incense daily, with frankincense in the morning, myrrh at midday, and Kapet (better known by its Greek name, Kyphi) in the evening. Each scent was believed to be an independent vehicle of meaning, ceremony, and purpose. Certain gods and goddesses were also associated with specific types of incense. For example, Hathor was strongly associated with myrrh. The Egyptians also gathered the resinous "tears" and "sweat" of the gods from the myrrh and frankincense trees to use in their incense.
The ancient Egyptians carefully bought, transported, and stored their incense, treating the pieces of resin like emblems of their gods' bodies. They imported exotic fragrances like myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, cassia, and galbanum from places like Punt, a place in the southern part of Africa. Hatshepsut, for example, immortalized her expensive expeditions to Punt on the walls of her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, showing rows of men carrying incense trees back to Egypt so that the sacred precinct could have the "Odor of the Divine Land".
Incense was also used to scent bodies when people were alive and dead, and to purify homes, especially when people felt superstitious and wanted the entire air around them to be pure. It was also used to cure the sick and get rid of ailments that regular medicine found challenging to cure, such as snake bites, asthma, and bad breath.
Today, incense continues to be used in Egypt for religious purposes, as well as for its rich variety of scents and essential oils that sweeten the smell of the home, and provide comfort, relaxation, and clarity.
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Incense burners in ancient Greece and Rome
Incense burners, known as thymiateria in ancient Greece, could take a wide variety of forms, from simple earthenware pots to elaborate carved, moulded, or cast items made from clay or bronze. The purpose of incense burners in ancient Greece and Rome was largely religious. In Greek and Roman religion, incense smoke ascending to heaven was a means of communication with the gods and fed them. It could also suggest the presence of the divine. Incense burners were used to counteract or obscure malodorous products of human habitation, but were also believed to deter malevolent demons and appease the gods with their pleasant aroma.
Incense burners were also used in ancient Greece and Rome for aesthetic reasons, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial purposes. The aromatic resin used in incense burners was extracted from trees in the genus Boswellia. It was primarily used in fumigations for cult worship. The use of incense burners in ancient Greece and Rome was not limited to religious purposes, however. For example, cinnamon was a common incense used at Roman funerals. Saffron was also used as a burned incense and valued as a yellow dye.
Incense burners were also used in ancient Greece and Rome to create a pleasant aroma in the home. For example, the aromatic Egyptian incense kyphi, which contained myrrh, frankincense, saffron, cinnamon, cassia, and even raisins, was used in Egyptian temples dedicated to Isis and in homes to help people sleep.
Incense was also used as an aphrodisiac in ancient Greece and Egypt. The goddesses and nymphs of ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology are said to have used incense, which was believed to heighten sexual desires and attraction.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the process of using incense burners involved acquiring a suitable burner, often in the shape of a large bowl, and ensuring that the charcoal inside it stayed lit. After the ritual, the briquette was allowed to cool, powdered, and mixed with the old ash to be used in the next ritual.
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Incense burners in China
Incense has been used in Europe, but its use has been far more widespread in the East, particularly in China. In China, incense burners have been used since the Neolithic period and were an essential part of life, especially for the imperial palace and the intellectual class. The Chinese word "xiang" means "fragrance", "scent", "aroma", "perfume", and "spice", reflecting the pervasive role of incense in historical Chinese society.
During the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), a type of vessel known as a hill censer was used as an incense burner. It consisted of a shallow circular pan with a pierced lid, featuring a three-dimensional representation of the Daoist Isles of the Blest. The Tang dynasty (581-907 CE) was another prosperous period in China's history, with magnificent incense burners discovered from this era that showcase impressive craftsmanship, materials, and design.
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. Bronze incense holders became extremely popular during this period due to advancements in metalworking technologies, which produced highly durable and rust-resistant bronze.
By the time of the Xuan De Emperor, China had developed considerable expertise in the Cloisonné technique, which involves enamelling. During the Qing dynasty, Cloisonné gained even more favour, and significant quantities of cloisonné censers were created during the Ming and Qing dynasties. These censers typically featured a blue base and intricate patterns, with many surviving examples found in museum collections worldwide.
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Incense burners in Japan
Incense burners have been used in Europe, but they were more widespread in the East. In Europe, incense was used in the early Christian church for ceremonial purposes. During the European Middle Ages, its use was more restrained in the West than in the East.
Incense burners have a long history in Japan, with incense being used in the country as early as the 6th century. It was incorporated into Shinto rituals and later became popular with the upper and middle classes in the 15th and 16th centuries, who established Kodo, the ceremonial appreciation of incense.
The use of incense in Japan was influenced by other cultures, such as China, where incense was burned during festivals and processions to honour ancestors and household gods. In ancient Egypt, incense was prominent in religious rituals, and it was also used extensively by the Babylonians during prayer and divination.
The recreational and ritualistic use of incense has remained present throughout Asia and continues to be used in Japan for prayer, meditation, and creating spiritual spaces.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense burners were used in Europe for a variety of purposes, including religious rituals, aromatherapy, and creating a pleasant environment by purifying the air and counteracting disagreeable odours.
Early incense burners in Europe were typically made of bronze or pottery and fitted with a perforated lid.
The chief substances used as incense in Europe were resins such as frankincense and myrrh, along with aromatic wood and bark, seeds, roots, and flowers.
The use of incense burners in Europe dates back to ancient times, with records of incense being distributed to parts of Europe as early as 601 BC.
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