For centuries, the delicate art of incense burning has been deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese culture. At the heart of this tradition lies the ceramic incense burner, a vessel that has evolved alongside Chinese civilization. From the elegant simplicity of ancient designs to the intricate masterpieces of later dynasties, these burners offer a fascinating glimpse into the artistic and cultural sensibilities of each era.
During the Shang and Zhou periods, early incense burners were primarily made of bronze, used for sacrificial rituals and cooking, symbolizing reverence and prayers to deities and ancestors. The shapes of these incense burners often reflected the solemn and respectful sacrificial culture of the time.
The Han Dynasty marked the emergence of incense burners specifically designed for burning incense, with the perfume burners of the Han period considered precursors to incense burners. At this time, the function of incense burners gradually shifted from practical use to cultural and artistic expression. The design of Han Dynasty incense burners was relatively simple, with the Boshang furnace being a common type. Its shape symbolized the legendary Mount Penglai, reflecting people's pursuit of nature and harmony.
The Tang Dynasty was a peak period for the craftsmanship of incense burners, with diverse shapes and often incorporating elements of Western Region cultures, showing an open and inclusive characteristic of the era. The Boshang furnace of the Tang Dynasty became a classic, reflecting the aesthetic style of the time. Tang Dynasty incense burners were not only used in daily life but also served as important utensils for literati to enjoy tea and discuss philosophy.
The Song Dynasty saw further development in the technology of making ceramic incense burners, with various shapes such as tripod furnaces and fish-ear furnaces, emphasizing retro style and the aesthetic needs of literati. The design of Song Dynasty incense burners tended to be simple, emphasizing the beauty of lines and glaze colors. Porcelain incense burners began to流行, mainly including gui-style furnaces and ge-style furnaces, with elegant shapes and a focus on the combination of practical use and ornamental combination.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties saw a significant increase in the variety and quantity of ceramic incense burners, with blue and white porcelain and multi-color porcelain incense burners becoming popular for collection, reflecting the craftsmanship and cultural taste of the time. The shapes of Ming Dynasty incense burners became richer, with the emergence of new types such as elephant-ear furnaces, halberd-ear furnaces, and barrel furnaces. Qing Dynasty incense burners were more exquisite in shape and decoration, with common types including bowl-shaped furnaces and various complex-shaped furnaces, emphasizing the delicacy and magnificence of the craftsmanship.
Ceramic incense burners are not only practical utensils but also symbols of culture and art. They carry a wealth of historical and cultural connotations, reflecting the ancient people's pursuit of life and awe of nature.
The literati's fondness for ceramic incense burners: Ceramic incense burners were often used by literati as decorative items in their studies, where the aroma of burning incense complemented the atmosphere of books, adding to the cultural ambiance. In the lives of literati, nothing could be missing, not even incense. Huang Tingjian once summarized the "Ten Virtues of Incense," reflecting the important status of incense burners in the lives of literati.
Ritual and religion: Incense burners played an important role in Buddhist and Taoist ceremonies, becoming ritual vessels for worship and offering to Buddha, symbolizing reverence for deities. Incense burners were often closely linked with various activities such as offering sacrifices to heaven and gathering spirits, worshiping ancestors and offering to sages, Buddhist and Taoist rituals, etiquette and leisure, calming the mind and refining the spirit, and eliminating plagues and dispelling filth, reflecting the cultural style and spiritual pursuits of the society at the time.
Art and collection: With the development of ceramic technology, the artistic value of incense burners has gradually been recognized, and they have become the target of collectors' pursuit, reflecting people's emphasis on traditional culture. The design and craftsmanship of incense burners have had a profound impact on later generations, and many shapes and decorative techniques of incense burners from the Tang Dynasty have been continued and developed in the making of incense burners in the Song Dynasty and later, forming an important foundation of Chinese incense burner culture.
Different shapes of ceramic incense burners and their meanings:
- Boshan Furnace: Shaped like a mountain, symbolizing nature and harmony, often used in the studies of literati, implying nobility and elegance.
- Tripod Furnace: This shape is stable, symbolizing stability and tradition, often used in rituals and households, reflecting reverence for ancestors.
- Fish-ear Furnace: The ear part is designed like a fish, implying wealth and auspiciousness, often used for home decoration, adding to the beauty of life.
- Lotus Furnace: Shaped like a lotus, symbolizing purity and beauty, often used in Buddhist ceremonies, expressing reverence for the Buddha.
- Drum Lamp Furnace: The shape is unique, often used for festivals and celebrations, implying auspiciousness and joy.
The evolution of Chinese ceramic incense burners reflects the cultural, artistic, and technological development of each historical period. The following are the notable characteristics of ceramic incense burners in different dynasties:
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Han Dynasty: The origin and function, the Han Dynasty was an important period for the development of incense burners, and the perfume burners that truly used incense as their purpose began to appear. Early incense burners were mostly made of bronze, mainly used for rituals and incense burning, and their functions gradually shifted to daily use. In terms of shape, Han Dynasty incense burners were mostly simple bean-shaped or high-footed furnaces, with a relatively simple design, emphasizing practicality.
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Tang Dynasty: Diversity and magnificence, the Tang Dynasty was the peak period for the development of incense burners, and the shapes and decorations of incense burners became more diverse. Common types included bronze incense burners and ceramic incense burners, with shapes including round and square, and the feet were mostly three-legged or four-legged. In terms of decorative art, the surfaces of Tang Dynasty incense burners were mainly decorated with inscriptions and patterns, with common animal shapes, human faces, and flower patterns, showing the era's advocacy of art and open cultural characteristics.
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Song Dynasty: Simplicity and delicacy, the design of Song Dynasty incense burners tended to be simple, emphasizing the beauty of lines and glaze colors. Porcelain incense burners began to流行, mainly including gui-style furnaces and ge-style furnaces, with elegant shapes and a focus on the combination of practical use and ornamental combination. In terms of craftsmanship, the porcelain firing technology of the Song Dynasty reached its peak, and the incense burners of famous kilns such as Guanyao and Ru Kiln became popular for collection, reflecting the aesthetic style and craftsmanship of the time.
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Yuan Dynasty: Inheritance and innovation, the incense burners of the Yuan Dynasty, based on the inheritance of the Song Dynasty style, had a large quantity and variety, with common types including three-legged round furnaces and ge-style furnaces. The kilns of Yaozhou in the Yuan Dynasty, Longquan Kiln, and others also made many exquisite incense burners, showing a unique artistic style. In terms of glaze color, the glaze colors of Yuan Dynasty incense burners were more diverse, with common types including blue glaze and white glaze, emphasizing the change and sense of hierarchy of colors.
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Ming Dynasty: Rich shapes, the shapes of Ming Dynasty incense burners became richer, with the emergence of new types such as elephant-ear furnaces, halberd-ear furnaces, and barrel furnaces. Blue and white porcelain and multi-color porcelain incense burners became the mainstream, with decorations not only including traditional patterns but also historical allusions and paintings of sages, implying profound meanings. In terms of artistic value, Ming Dynasty incense burners were not only practical utensils but also works of art, loved by literati, and became an important carrier of cultural exchange.
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Qing Dynasty: Delicacy and luxury, Qing Dynasty incense burners were more exquisite in shape and decoration, with common types including bowl-shaped furnaces and various complex-shaped furnaces, emphasizing the delicacy and magnificence of the craftsmanship. In terms of cultural symbolism, Qing Dynasty incense burners were not only used for burning incense but also often served as collectibles for literati, reflecting the cultural taste and aesthetic pursuit of the time.
In summary, the evolution of Chinese ceramic incense burners reflects the cultural, artistic, and technological development of each historical period. From the practicality of the Han Dynasty to thediverse magnificence of the Tang Dynasty, to the simple delicacy of the Song Dynasty, and the rich shapes of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, incense burners are not only incense-burning utensils but also symbols of culture and art, carrying profound historical connotations. The craftsmanship characteristics of Chinese ceramic incense burners in the Tang Dynasty reflected the prosperity of society and the diversity of culture at that time. With the diversity of materials, the richness of shapes, the exquisite craftsmanship, and the combination of cultural functions, Tang Dynasty incense burners are not only practical utensils but also works of art, carrying profound historical and cultural connotations. Through the shapes of incense burners, we can see the cultural aesthetics, social customs, and spiritual pursuits of each historical period. These incense burners are not only practical utensils but also symbols of culture and art, reflecting the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture.