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Incense Burner
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Incense Burner
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Incense Burner
CHINA; Eastern Jin dynasty (317–420); Bronze; H: 15 cm; Zhenjiang Museum, Jiangsu, China
This incense burner consists of a round plate, a pillar, and a bowl. The plate is undecorated, apart from a reclining lion and a pillar in the center. The bowl is in two sections; the lower is made of a plain hemisphere with a ledge on which there are four seated Buddhas and three birds with their heads raised. The Buddhas have high usnisas and hold their hands in the dhyana (meditation) mudra. The upper hemisphere has an openwork design with four birds attached. The two hemispheres are joined by a hinge.
This incense burner represents an early example of this form of Dharma instrument and exhibits a high level of craftsmanship for that time. |
