Egôro (ritual censer) / Artist Unknown, Japan
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2007/2.6
- Title
- Egôro (ritual censer)
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, Japan
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Medium and Support
- gilt bronze with semiprecious stones
- Object Creation Date
- 1583-1650
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Japan (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Japan (nation)
- Dimensions
- 41 cm x 12.2 cm x 9 cm (16 1/8 in. x 4 13/16 in. x 3 9/16 in.)
- Century
- 16th-17th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- incense burner
- Secondary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Secondary Object Type
- ritual object
- Physical Description
- It is a bronze incense burner with a long handle. The circular bowl is a brazier, in which incense is burnt in Shinto rituals. The brazier has a fluted mouth and double-lines on the outside body. A circular foot, in a chrysanthemum shape, is attached to the brazier. There is a support that connects between the brazier and the foot. The brazier’s lid has an intricate openwork design of lotus flower scrolls with a knob in the shape of a lotus bud. The rim has an incised, stylized design of clouds. The mounting between the brazier and the handle is in the shape of Buddhist jewel with two semi-precious stones. The handle has carved lotus flower scrolls, and the end of which is bent at a right angle and joined to a round pedestal. Rising from the pedestal is a small statue of a lion on a lotus-shape pedestal, which serves as a knob handgrip when the incense burner is held.
- Subject Matter
- In Japanese Buddhist rituals, a long-handled censer, egôro, signifies the celebrant’s authority. In processions the chief priest leads the other monks, holding an egôro. During the ritual, he frequently picks up the egoro and places it in front of the image of deity to offer incense to the deity. Fumigation is believed to clear evil sprit.
- This beautiful, gilded egôro was used in rituals of Japan’s indigenous Shintô religion. Since the introduction of Buddhism to Japan in 7th century, Shinto adopted many aspects of Buddhist practices and representations. The UMMA egôro has familiar Buddhist motifs, such as a lion on the knob handgrip, lotus flowers on the brazier lid and the handle, and a stylized jewel shape on the mounting between the brazier and the handle.
- Secondary Keywords
- animals and creatures
- associated concepts
- buildings and the land
- containers
- containers by function or context
- descriptors
- design elements
- events
- flowers (plants)
- herbaceous plants
- landscapes (environments)
- mammals
- motifs
- natural landscapes
- object genres
- object genres by material
- objects we use
- people and culture
- plant-derived motifs
- plants
- religions
- religions and religious concepts
- settlements and landscapes
- vegetation and vegetation components
- vegetation components
- woody plants
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 3300 x 1545
- File Size
- 678 KB
- Record
- 2007/2.6
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2007-sl-2.6/2007_2.6.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
Cite this Item
View the Help Guide for more information.
- Full citation
-
"Egôro (ritual censer); Artist Unknown, Japan." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2007-sl-2.6/2007_2.6.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 18, 2024.
