Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner

The Gilt-Bronze Incense Burner epitomizes the essence of Baekje art and embodies the spirit and culture of the Baekje people. Surprisingly, this beautiful incense burner was uncovered during the construction of a parking lot for tourists in 1993. A jewel was recovered from the mud! This was the greatest example of Baekje art and the greatest archaeological find discovered since the excavation of the Royal Tomb of King Muryeong.

The incense burner, uncovered after 1,400 years, was undamaged and still retained its original shape. The soil it was buried in had protected and preserved the artifact.

Further excavations were conducted in the area after the incense burner was found and it was determined that the area was the former site of a temple of the Baekje Kingdom. This indicated that the incense burner was not only a decorative item, but also a ceremonial accessory used during important rituals.

Records from ancient Egypt and the West indicated incense was burned during ceremonial rituals. Both the scent and the smoke of the burning incense were considered sacred.

Let's take a look at the incense burner.

The artifact is comprised of four parts. There is a lid with a bird-shaped knob where the smoke is released through holes. The body is covered with splendid designs and the base is shaped like a dragon.

First, the splendid, dignified bird on top of the lid is a phoenix, the sacred, imaginary animal of the ancient East. People believed that dragons and phoenixes possessed sacred powers.

The figure of the phoenix on the top of the lid of the incense burner illustrates the sophistication of works of art from Baekje. In particular, the long tail that curves upward is exceptionally delicate.

Next, the mountainous habitat of the saints is depicted on the lid. The variety of unique animals and plants, along with heavenly musicians, resembles a divine paradise.

Finally, the body of the burner is shaped like a lotus flower in full bloom, the Buddhist symbol of the origin of all life.

The incense burner combines nature, reality, and Buddhist principles within the realms of imagination and is a perfect expression of the ideal, utopian world dreamed of by the people of Baekje.