Bronze Incense Burner with Silver-inlaid Design

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.288

Category

Craft

Era

고려 충목왕 2년(1346)

Designated year

1963

Location

의왕시, 경기도— 경기도 의왕시

Coordinates

No precise coordinates are available, so this item is not shown as a map marker. To be added later.

Hyangno (incense-burner) commonly refers to any incense burner used to burn incense at a Buddhist temple with the goal of cleansing the soul. Also called hwawan and hyangwan, hyangno is the most commonly used name for any religious incense burners regardless of the shape or size. Incense burners that are called hwawan and hyangwan refer only to those with a bowl-shaped body with long trumpet-shaped legs. This particular silver inlaid incense burner is a hyangwan, which is 28.8cm in height and 29.1cm in mouth diameter. There are four double-lined circles on different parts of the body with a Sanskrit word inside each of the circles and a floral pattern around them. The bottom part of the body is covered with lotus pattern and the legs are engraved with a dragon. The bottom portion of the legs is engraved with a vine pattern. The inner circumference of the mouth is engraved with a little over 90 letters, describing about the history of this temple as well as when this incense burner was made. Made in 1346 (the 2nd year of the reign of King Chungmok of Goryeo), it was originally placed in the Yonggongsa Temple in Geumgangsan Mountain, North Korea but was brought to South Korea during the Korean War. This is regarded as the most beautiful silver inlaid incense burner found in Korea, but also as that of imbalance due to the legs that are too thin for the body.