Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container
Wood
Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container - Cover (detail)
Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container
JAPAN, Nara
According to the inscription in the center of the lid, this incense box was used as an offering during the inauguration of the Vairocana Buddha statue in Todaiji Temple in 752.
The rectangular case is made of wood and is 45 cm long, 30 cm wide and 21.4 cm high. The base consists of a frame with six carved legs supporting the box. The box is black and colorfully decorated in orange, white, and yellow. Two phoenixes and two auspicious birds with wings spread forming a circle decorate the lid. The birds are accompanied by swaying vines to form a dynamic display. The sides are decorated with floral and cloud patterns.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts, page 344.
Cite this article:
Hsingyun, et al. "Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container." Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts , vol. 18, 2016, pp. 344.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Youji, Stefanie Pokorski, Mankuang, and Wen Fan. 2016. "Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container" In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts , 18:344.
Hsingyun, Youheng, Youji, Pokorski, S., Mankuang, & Fan, W.. (2016). Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container. In Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts (Vol. 18, pp. 344).
@misc{Hsingyun2016,
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 344,
title = {{Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Youji and Pokorski, Stefanie and Mankuang and Fan, Wen,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Artifacts },
pages = 344,
title = {{Todaiji Temple Shosoin: Incense Container}},
volume = 18,
year = {2016}}