球形香炉きゅうけいこうろ

  • 中国・唐時代
  • 9c
  • 鍍金銀
  • D-14
解説(開館1周年記念展)

この香炉は球体頂部に吊鎖を付け鉤で吊すようになっている。球体一面に透彫と繊細な蹴彫で宝相華唐草文が刻まれ,更に宝相華を花弁で囲んだ円紋を10か所に配し円紋内に鍍金を施している。二つの半球形を蝶番でつなぎ,対極に付けられた鉤で閉める構造で,合わせ目を子母口に造る。下半球内部は金銅の火皿と小環大環をおのおの90度ずつずらせて回転軸で組み合わせ,香炉の体勢にかかわりなく火皿を常に平衡に保つ装置を作っている。

香炉は香案にのせ,朝廷の儀式に使われたり,柄付きのものは西から伝来し仏教儀式などに使われたが,この形態の香炉は主に薫帳に掛けて衣服や褥に香を焚き込めるのに使用されたと考えられている。*1 小型のものは更に懐中に携帯し,薫香を身に纏ったり虫を遠ざけるなどの用途に使われたと想像される。更にこのような大型のものは室内の薫染にも使用された可能性もある。*2 唐代の上流階級の人々はその生活を薫香で満たし,常に仙境の雰囲気をつくり出していたのであろう。

この型の香炉は宋代にも見られるが,同様の形状と構造をもった球形の器は,日本には8世紀に香炉として伝わり,13-14世紀頃にはイスラムやヨーロッパでも作られるようになった。後者には吊鎖のないものもあり,香炉のほか手焙りとして使用されたものと考えられている。*3

1 文物1964年第6期
2 正倉院事務所編/『正倉院寶物2北倉來』/東京1996
3 E. Atil, W. T. Chase, P. Jett/Islamic Metalwork in the Freer Gallery of Art/Washington, D.C. 1985 no.23

Catalogue Entry

This censer was used while hanging by its hook from a chain. All of the surface is covered with floral and arabesque patterns of openwork and with delicate engraving in lines made by single, individual taps. Moreover the ten round motifs of sacred flowers encircled with flower petals are engraved and gilded. The two hemispheres are hinged and can be hooked to close the censer. The mouths are fitted with a socket and spigot joint. In the lower hemisphere, a gilt bronze cup-shaped fire pot is found in large and small metal circles connected by pivots. Because of this equipment, the fire pot remains level even when the censer is tipped at an angle.

Generally, censers were used for court rituals, set on a special table. Incense burners with handles were introduced from the Western Regions, and used for Buddhist rituals. Censers of this type were used to keep clothing and mats fragrant; the censer was hung up with the clothing on a clothes rack.*1 Small globular censers also appear to have been used by individuals, who carried them for the fragrance or to keep away insects. This one is so large that may have been used to freshen the air in a room.*2 It seems to have been the custom among the people of the upper classes in the Tang dynasty to fill their daily lives with good fragrances, creating an atmosphere of the immortal world.

There are some examples of censers of this type from the Sung dynasty in China. This type was introduced to Japan as a censer in the 8th century, and was also made in Islamic areas and in Europe during the 13th and 14th centuries. There are some examples without hanging chains in areas outside of China, which may have been used both as censers and as hand warmers.*3