BertAn incense burner or censer is a device that is used to hold incense and burn it safely. Although it sounds so easy, a censer has a strong cultural and art connotation, particularly in Chinese customs. Since ancient times, it has been involved in religious worship, festivals, and even normal lives. In addition to its practical functionality, a censer is a symbol of beauty, craftsmanship, and respect for tradition. This tells what is a censer and its origin.
The Origin of the Censer
Censers started to be used in China thousands of years ago. The first examples were presented in the Han dynasty when incense was popular in houses, temples, and royal rituals. The incense burning was then perceived as a means of contacting heaven and cleansing spaces, and calming down the mind. The censer was used to make this task much safer and more gracious, as it could regulate the incense burning and the spread of smoke. The ancient censer could be composed of bronze and decorated with the images of natural objects like clouds, dragons, or mountains. One of the well-known forms was the so-called boshanlu, in the form of a mountain with minute holes enabling the smoke to ascend slowly and like mist floating over mountains. In the long run, the use of censers started to be observed in homes, study rooms, and temples, and it is a representation of calmness and fortune.
The Art of Making a Censer
The making of a censer is regarded as a craft, as well as an art form. The ancient censers were of bronze, or even clay or porcelain. The art of making each work was meticulously molded and sculpted by hand. The plain and simple were among some of the censers, and there were ornamented ones, painted with natural pictures or natural designs on their surface. The form tended to be in accordance with the beliefs of the time and displayed a unity between a human and nature. The form of a censer was also significant. Others were in the form of a wide opening to burn loose powder of incense, and some were made in the form of an incense stick or coil. The handles and lids were put there not only to be beautiful but also to be useful, to carry the censer or to regulate air circulation. Each censer was also a piece of art because of the balance between its functionality and its beauty.
Censers in Spiritual and Daily Life
Censers are also applied in temples to make prayers and offerings. The smoke on the rise symbolizes prayers that are going to the heavens, and offers respect and wishes to the divine. Censers were also believed to remove bad energy, and thus they could create a calm and clean place to worship. Censers were commonly used to meditate, study, and relax in homes, as well. The soft smell of incense served to get individuals to concentrate or relax after working a long day. Incense was burnt during ancient times when scholars were writing poetry or painting, since it made them remain composed and meditative. Censers were also a decoration of traditional Chinese medicine and tea ceremonies, during which some smells were considered to be beneficial to health and harmony.
Conclusion
Censer is not merely an instrument, but a representation of art, culture and spiritual relations. Its ancient history demonstrates that a simple object may bear profound meaning, which would signify care, respect and beauty. The censer can be used at home or in the temple to remind people of peace and balance in daily life.