Korean Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner of Baekje and the Tradition of Han Boshanlu Censer’s Usage in East Asia

The author analyzes the history of the unique mountain-shaped ancient ritual vessels - Boshanlu (博山爐) censers, known in China since the Western Han era (202 BC - 8 AD), based on research obtained through written, archaeological and museum sources, as well as material from the author’s field research in East Asia. The mountain-shaped censer openly embodies symbols of Taoist interpretations of the holy 仙 xian and the search for immortality. Subsequently, once the incense burners began to incorporate Buddhist symbols, they gained great importance in Buddhist ritual practices. The design of these vessels gradually transformed under the influence of Buddhism, as Taoist symbols were phased out in favor of various Buddhist attributes. These incense burners became an integral decorative element of the Buddhist altar (alongside flower vases and candlesticks). Having ceased its time of mass use in the post-Han years, Boshanlu censer have not completely disappeared. Their memory has survived among burial imagery, cave and stone bas-reliefs and Buddhist-themed sculptural compositions. The article provides the research of the most prominent issues of the Southern Liang, Northern Qi and Sui dynasties’ cultural heritage (second half of the 6th century) and shows their influence on the Boshanlu censers’ exterior and similarities of the latter with the gilt-bronze Baekje (百済金銅大香爐) incense burner. After a profound analysis, taking into account latest research, the symbolism which encompassed Baekje incense burners (at the turn of the 6-7^th centuries) has been found to contain common features with the Chinese mountain-shaped censers, characterized by elements that allow this vessel to be classified as a unique item, symbolically reflecting an entire complex of various religious and philosophical representations, including Taoist-Buddhist concepts, local cults and local versions of palace ceremonies and everyday practices of the people of the state of Baekje.

Mountain-shaped Chinese Boshanlu censers, the Han era, Great gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje, Baekje state, Korea, China, Taoism, Buddhism

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