Bronze Incense Burner with Silver-inlaid Design of Tongdosa Temple

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.334

Category

Craft

Era

고려시대

Designated year

1963

Location

양산시, 경상남도— 경남 양산시 하북면 통도사로 108, 통도사 성보박물관 (지산리)

Coordinates

35.487956, 129.064387

Hyangno (an incense burner) is a general term for objects used for burning incense in a temple, intended to clean the grime of the mind. There are other names, such as hwawan and hyangwan, but hyangno is the all-inclusive term regardless of the shape and size. Hwawan and hyangwan signify only incense burners that have a bowl-shaped body supported by a trumpet-shaped high strut. This hyangno is 33 cm in height, 30 cm in mouth diameter, and 24.7 cm in strut diameter. It is engraved all over, using silver and gold threads, with patterns of lotus flower, vine, phoenix and clouds. In the middle of the body are four circles and around these are flower prints. At present, the round tin board stamped with Sanskrit letters is fixed with four nails, having been repaired at a later date. The space between the circles is engraved with a vine pattern, and lotus flower prints are engraved around the lower part of the body in turn. An especially distinctive character of this hyangno is that the interval between each vine is filled with silver plate. The strut has three tiers. The upper one has a lotus flower, the below a vine, and the middle has a cloud and phoenix patterns in the large space with thick and thin threads. The only flaw is a slightly bent rim of the mouth. It may be presumed to be a work of the first half of Goryeo because it has a fully mature beauty, and the engraved pattern is refined and elaborate.

Location