Katrina Rosales
Incense burners, or koro, have been used in Japan for centuries, with the practice of incense burning being introduced to the country alongside Buddhism. During the Edo period (1603-1867/1868), incense burners were placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the room and as decorative artworks. Incense was also used in games, with incense imagery becoming popular on decorative crests and kimonos. Incense burners were made from materials such as ceramic or metal, with bowl-like appearances, and were used by the aristocracy, samurai, and court nobles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | 1603-1867 or 1615-1868 |
| Who used incense burners | Wealthy merchants, the Tokugawa clan and their cultural circle, the samurai class |
| Purpose | Scenting rooms, decorative artwork, mindfulness practice before battle |
| Placement | Tokonoma alcove of a room |
| Appearance | Bowl-like, oval-shaped with small legs, covered with enamel and decorated with maple leaves |
| Materials | Ceramic, metal |
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What You'll Learn
Incense burners were used in the tokonoma alcove of a room
Incense was first introduced to Japan alongside Buddhism and its rituals in the 6th century. The practice of burning incense was adopted by the upper classes in the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), with incense used to perfume their homes, clothes, and hair. This practice was inspired by the use of incense in Buddhist rituals and ceremonies.
During the Edo Period (1603-1867/1615-1868 CE), incense burners were placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room. These incense burners were not only functional but also decorative artworks. The delicate smoke of the burning incense would escape through the cover of the burner, scenting the room. For example, an incense burner in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is oval-shaped, with small legs, and a cover decorated with maple leaves. The burner would have contained fine ash, on top of which incense wood or a mixture would have been burned. The maple-leaf theme of the burner would have been seasonally appropriate, with other autumnal items displayed in the alcove, such as flowers, paintings, or calligraphy.
Incense burners were also used in incense games, which became more widespread during the Edo Period as the wealthy merchant class gained access to incense. These games often involved comparing different incense scents and were associated with poetry and literary classics such as The Tale of Genji. Incense imagery and decorative crests associated with incense games became popular on kimonos and screens.
The appreciation of incense in Japan is known as kōdō or "the way of incense", and it is considered a classical Japanese art form. Kōdō involves special customs and ceremonies, such as the incense-smelling ceremony or Monkoh, where participants listen to the fragrances.
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Incense games became popular among the wealthy merchant class
Incense has been an important aspect of Japanese culture for nearly 1500 years. It was introduced to Japan via Zen Buddhists, who used incense during ceremonies and prayers. By the end of the Nara Period (710-794 CE), incense had become popular among the Japanese aristocracy. During the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), the use of incense grew in popularity, as evidenced by its depiction in the Japanese epic, "The Tale of Genji".
During the Muromachi period (1392–1573), the practice of "'the way of incense' or "Kodo" developed alongside the tea ceremony. Kodo refers to the art of listening to fragrances, which evolved into an incense-smelling ceremony. Incense games, along with the collection of famous named incense wood pieces, also became popular during this time.
Around the beginning of the Edo period (1603-1867/1615-1868), Kodo grew in popularity as a way for the aristocracy to preserve their cultural identity. It also became a popular pastime of the Tokugawa clan and their cultural circle. Incense games, often associated with poetry and literary classics such as "'The Tale of Genji', became even more widespread as the wealthy merchant class gained access to incense.
Incense games involved various utensils, such as incense burners (kōro), incense heaters (kikikōro), and boxes for storing incense wood. Incense burners were typically placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the room and as decorative artworks. The delicate smoke of the burning incense would come through the decorative openings in the cover. Incense was also used to perfume hair, rooms, and clothes, with incense imagery becoming popular on decorative crests, kimonos, and other applied art objects.
Thus, during the Edo period, incense games became popular among the wealthy merchant class, spreading beyond the samurai and court class, and contributing to the appreciation of incense as an art form in Japan.
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Incense burners were made from materials such as ceramic or metal
Incense has been an important aspect of Japanese culture for nearly 1,500 years. It was introduced to Greater Japan by Zen Buddhists, who used it during ceremonies and prayer. By the end of the Nara Period (710-794 CE), incense had become popular among courtiers and Japanese aristocracy. During the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), the use of incense grew in popularity, with upper-class Japanese using it to perfume their hair and clothes.
During the Edo Period (1615-1868), incense became a staple of Japanese society, with "incense games" becoming popular among wealthy merchants. More incense tools were introduced, including Japanese incense burners (kōro) and incense holders for scenting rooms and clothes. These incense burners were often made of ceramic or metal and featured intricate designs.
For example, an incense burner from the Edo Period in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is made of ceramic and features an openwork cover with enamel decorations in relief. It has an oval shape with small legs and a cover reticulated in maple-leaf forms, with a horse-shaped handle. This burner would have been placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the space and as a decorative artwork.
Another example of an incense burner from the Edo Period is made of metal and features a similar oval shape with small legs and a reticulated cover. This burner also includes a figure of a crane on the handle and is believed to have been used by the upper class to scent their homes and perfume their hair and clothes.
The use of incense burners during the Edo Period reflects the importance of incense in Japanese culture and its integration into various aspects of daily life, including art, poetry, and fashion. These incense burners, made from materials such as ceramic or metal, showcase the attention to detail and aesthetic value placed on these functional artworks.
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Incense was introduced to Japan by Zen Buddhists
Incense was introduced to Japan in the 6th century CE, during the Asuka period, with the arrival of Buddhism. Zen Buddhists used incense during their ceremonies and prayers, burning it in their temples. The Nihon Shoki, a classical Japanese history book, records that a log of agarwood washed up on the shores of Awaji Island in 595 CE. This wood was presented to Prince Shōtoku and Empress Suiko, who were already familiar with incense through Buddhism, which had been introduced to Japan around 538 CE.
Zen Buddhists burned incense made from aromatic wood and herbs, called koboku, for religious purposes. This practice became established in Japan as the ritual of sonaekō. By the end of the Nara Period (710-794 CE), the use of incense had spread beyond temples, with courtiers and the Japanese aristocracy adopting the practice, inspired by its use in Buddhist rituals. Upper-class Japanese people began to use incense to perfume their homes, hair, and clothes, signalling refinement and good taste.
During the Heian Period (794-1185 CE), the use of incense continued to grow in popularity. The Japanese epic The Tale of Genji describes how incense was used and packaged during this period. It was common to have a large lacquer box to carry incense and its supplies, with smaller boxes inside containing raw incense materials such as aloe, clove, sandalwood, deer musk, amber, and herbs, as well as small spatulas for mixing.
In the 12th century CE, with the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, a new approach to Buddhism, known as "New Buddhism", further popularized the use of incense in Japan. This led to the development of more informal incense gatherings, where guests would take turns enjoying ten different incenses, known as "incense games". These games were particularly popular among aristocratic warriors, who used incense woods rather than the earlier kneaded and mixed incense compositions.
During the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), Kōdō, or "The Way of Fragrance", was introduced, formalising the conduct for appreciating incense in Japanese society. Incense games became even more widespread during the Edo Period (1615-1868), when wealthy merchants began to purchase incense. Incense became a staple of society, influencing art, poetry, and fashion. Incense burners, known as kōro, were placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the space and as decorative artworks.
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Incense burners were used in the Japanese tea ceremony
Incense was first introduced to Japan alongside Buddhism, over 1,000 years ago. The practice of burning incense during ceremonies and prayer was adopted from Zen Buddhists, and it quickly became an important aspect of Japanese culture. Incense was used to perfume homes, clothes, and hair, and it was also used during the Japanese tea ceremony.
During the Muromachi period (1392–1573), the practice of "the way of incense" or kōdō developed alongside the tea ceremony. The burning of incense became an art form called Kodo, which translates to "the way of incense". Kodo was acknowledged as one of the geido, refined arts that were performed following certain rules and manners.
Around the beginning of the Edo period (1615–1868), kōdō grew in popularity as a way for the aristocracy to preserve their cultural identity. Incense burners, or kōro, were used during this time to hold incense and contain the ash while burning. These incense burners were often placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the room and as decorative artworks.
Incense burners could be made of ceramic or metal and were typically bowl-like in appearance. The incense used was usually in the form of sticks or balls made from raw materials such as aloe, clove, sandalwood, deer musk, amber, and herbs.
The use of incense during the Japanese tea ceremony, or sadō, is a well-known example of geidō, which refers to special ceremonies and customs that are performed in a specific way. The focus of geidō is on the process and the way something is done, rather than the results. Incense burners played an important role in the tea ceremony, as they allowed for the burning of incense to scent the room and create a ceremonial atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
Incense was introduced to Japan through Zen Buddhists who used it during ceremonies and prayers. It was first imported to Japan in 595 CE during the reign of Empress Suiko.
Incense burners, also known as koro, were used to hold incense and contain the ash while burning. They were placed in the tokonoma alcove of a room to scent the room and as decorative artworks.
Incense burners were used by the upper class and wealthy merchants during the Edo period.
Incense games involved comparing different incense woods and guessing their identities. These games were often associated with poetry and literary classics such as The Tale of Genji.
Kōdō, or "the way of incense", is a Japanese art form and appreciation ceremony involving incense. It developed during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) alongside the tea ceremony and grew in popularity during the Edo period.
