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National Treasure

Great Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje

백제 금동대향로 ( 百濟 金銅大香爐 )

Heritage Search Detail
Classification National Treasure
Name of Cultural Properties Great Gilt-bronze Incense Burner of Baekje
Quantity 1 Item
Designated Date 1996.05.30
Age 6th-7th century (Baekje)
Address Buyeo National Museum, 5, Geumseong-ro, Buyeo-eup, Buyeo-gun, Chungcheongnam-do

This is a large incense burner 64cm in height and 11.8 kilograms in weight. This artifact was excavated in 1993 at the temple site near Naseong Fortress of Baekje and the ancient tombs in Neungsan-ri with the help of the Buyeo National Museum. It was excavated along with 450 other artifacts. There are four parts to this incense burner. The body and the lid are the main parts. The Chinese phoenix-shaped knob and the support plate are two other parts. There is scenery of 23 mountains shaping four to five layers of deep-mountain ranges on the lid. Five musicians with various instruments and sixteen other various characters are also illustrated. Thirty-nine animals including the Chinese phoenix, dragon, tiger, and deer are depicted. Six different trees, twelve boulders, trails, creeks, waterfalls, lakes, and other land features compose changing scenery. On top of the lid, a separate Chinese phoenix holding yeouiju between its beak and neck is mounted. It is standing up with its wings folded and tail raised. Such smoothness is a characteristic of Baekje Dynasty's artwork. Five holes are drilled on the lid, including one on the chest of the Chinese phoenix, to naturally ventilate the incense flow. The main body of the burner closely resembles a blossoming lotus flower. On the lateral surface, twenty-six different animals are depicted. The supporting plate is a dragon holding a blossoming lotus flower, which is the main body, with its mouth pointing upward. It appears that this incense burner was influenced by a Chinese version called Baksan Incense Burner, but unlike the Chinese ones, the design of the scenery is independent, three-dimensional, and realistic. The creativity and modeling is superb, and the illustration of Buddhism, Taoism, and other religious theology and beliefs demonstrates its complexity.