Today, let’s get to know what is Chinese incense!how many of these exquisite Chinese incense utensils do you recognize?
Incense utensils, also known as incense paraphernalia, are the vessels and tools used when using incense. Besides the most common incense burners, there are handheld incense burners, incense censers, incense holders (also known as incense cages), horizontal incense burners, incense balls (or incense spheres), and incense pouches, among others. These intricately designed incense utensils serve not only the practical purpose of facilitating the use of different types of incense but also serve as decorative ornaments.
Incense Burner
The incense burner is the most common incense utensil, available in various shapes such as tripod burners, cylindrical burners, lotus-shaped burners, and ding-shaped burners, among others. They are made from materials like ceramic, copper, aluminum, as well as stone and wood. Copper burners have been popular since the Ming and Qing dynasties as they are heat-resistant and come in various artistic designs. Other materials for incense burners often include a layer of heat-resistant sand like quartz placed at the bottom to prevent the burner from overheating and cracking.
Handheld Incense Burner
A handheld incense burner, designed to be held in hand or carried with a handle (equipped with a handle), can be used for heating as well as for incense. They come in various shapes like round, square, hexagonal, petal-shaped, etc., often with decorative patterns carved into their surfaces, such as floral lattice, auspicious motifs, landscapes, and figures. They are typically made from yellow or white brass.
Incense Censer
The incense censer, also known as a long-handled incense burner, is a small incense burner with a long handle, often used for offering to deities. The handle is usually adorned with lotus flowers or auspicious creatures and is used to burn incense powders or incense pellets. It has been popular since the Tang Dynasty.
Incense Holder (Incense Cage)
An incense holder, also known as an incense cage to distinguish it from the small tube used for inserting incense sticks, is used for burning vertical incense sticks. It has a long, straight cylindrical shape with a flat top cover and a flat base. The outer walls are usually hollowed out in various patterns, and there’s a small insertion tube inside for easily placing the incense sticks. It’s typically made from materials like bamboo, wood, or jade, and high-quality versions can even be crafted from ivory.
Horizontal Incense Burner (Horizontal Incense Censer)
The horizontal incense burner, used for lighting horizontal incense sticks, is similar to the incense holder but oriented differently.
Incense Ball (Incense Sphere)
An incense ball, also called an incense sphere, is spherical in shape with a long chain. The sphere is hollowed out into two halves, which are connected by a latch. Inside, there are several layers of smaller balls, all hanging on a central axis. The innermost layer has a small “cup” for burning incense, and no matter how the incense ball rotates, the cup remains level, preventing the incense from spilling out. Its ingenious design ensures that even when placed under a blanket, it won’t tip over or extinguish, hence its nickname “bedside incense burner.” Its principle is similar to that of a modern gyroscope.
Incense Holder (Incense Insert)
An incense holder, often with holes for inserting incense sticks (or incense sticks). It comes in various styles, with different heights, hole sizes, and hole quantities to accommodate different sizes of incense sticks.
Incense Tray (Incense Plate)
An incense tray, a flat tray used for burning incense, is usually made of wood or metal.
Incense Box
An incense box is used to store incense products, also known as incense caskets, incense cases, incense boxes, among other names. They often have flat, round, or square shapes and are made from materials like wood, copper, aluminum, etc., varying in size. They serve as containers as well as decorative items for altars and living spaces.
Incense Pouch
An incense pouch, also called a fragrance pouch, is what we now commonly refer to as an “incense bag.” It is usually crafted from embroidered silk fabric into a pouch shape, filled with fragrant materials, and then sealed. These pouches can be worn or hung for their aromatic qualities.
