Steel Alloy Incense Furnace, Japan - Soto Asian Art 禪藏

Steel alloy incense furnace, Japan

Estimate Period: 6 th – 7 th Century

Height: 15.0cm

Steel alloy incense furnace, Japan

精鋼香薰爐 , 日本 6 – 7 世紀

Estimate Period: 6 th – 7 th Century

Height: 15.0cm

A Buddhist practitioner uses aroma furnace during Buddhist chants, incantations, and meditation practices. Buddhism is the education of learning the Buddha’s spirit. The Buddhist spirit emphasises the mind. Disciples of Buddha refer to themselves as people who are learning Buddha’s spirit and behaviour. It is customary for prayers and Buddhist monastic “monk” engages Buddhist practices with the use of incense furnace in Asia.

In Buddhism, Chinese and Japanese Buddhist scholars often use the term “ 加持 ” which translates as “blessing” for Buddhist etiquette practices. “ 加持 , blessing” put forth a closer step to spiritual enlightenment: “refrain from doing all bad things, diligently do all good deeds, and purify the mind”.

This steel alloy incense furnace was taken by Buddhist monks from Japan; it was given to high Lamas in the Swat District as a scholarly exchange. The furnace has been purified for over a thousand of years by the blessing ( 加持 ) from the high Lamas.

This is a three legged incense furnace, the front facing the single leg engraved with “ 祿 ” which means, blessing. While the back facing the double legs engraved with “ 福 ” meaning, prosperity. The furnace is forged by specialist metalwork craftsmen for Buddhist monks and missionary scholars; it is both as an extreme rare works of art as well as an object of elegant minimalistic finish with historical and religious significance.