The Mac Dynasty incense burner tells a historical story

The incense burner belongs to the blue-gray ceramic line of the Mac Dynasty, crafted around 1588-1591, currently an antique in the An Bien collection ( Hai Phong ). It is not only beautiful but also crystallizes historical and cultural messages of the Vietnamese people.

The incense burner in the An Bien collection is a blue-gray glazed ceramic work 41cm high, 23.5cm in diameter, cylindrical in shape, with a high, flared mouth, decorated with rectangular panels inside depicting a winding dragon image in the shape of a “saddle” typical of Mac Dynasty art.

Closed in a rectangular or square pattern on the mouth or decorated with a blooming lotus pattern on the body.

The incense burner also has historical significance as it bears the shape and decorative patterns of two types of bronze drums produced by the Vietnamese.

The lower part of the incense burner has the shape of a Dong Son drum (dating back more than 2,000 years). Scientists have previously encountered the shape of a Dong Son drum placed upside down, but this incense burner is the only one with an upside down shape, with a body clearly divided into three parts, parallel short lines, and a triangle attached to the bottom.

The incense burner is also decorated with lotus flower patterns on opposite sides, typical of Muong drums (also known as Heger II type drums). Muong drums inherit the Dong Son drums and date back to the beginning of the Common Era to the Le Trung Hung period (16th - 18th century).

The neck is almost cylindrical in shape, decorated with lotus motifs and swirling clouds, inside is the word "Dai Tu" which is the word for Buddha (Buddhism).

The base of the incense burner has the shape of a Dong Son bronze drum with a bulging barrel, decorated with decorative rims with elements of Muong bronze drums such as lotus petal patterns, triangle patterns...

In particular, there is a four-headed animal statue located between the tang and the back of the drum, with round eyes, pointed ears like bat ears, and a nose and mouth, like the head of a bat. According to legend and feng shui, this image symbolizes happiness. This is how the sound “Búc” (bat) is associated with the sound “Phúc”. That is why many temples and pagodas are decorated with bat images.

The outside of the two large straps has a raised, winding dragon shape. There are four small straps on the side of the body, each with a raised Chinese character: "Dinh Huong", "Hue Huong" (also called Tue Huong), "Giai Thoat Huong" and "Giai Thoat Tri Kien Huong". These are the words in the Buddhist prayer of Nguyen Huong with the meaning of wishing that the incense smoke that people burn to worship Buddha will form large clouds of incense that fly to all ten directions, to places where there are Buddhists. The meaning of the word "Huong" here is the scent of virtue.

In which, “Dinh Huong” means the mind of the incense burner is determined and pure. “Hue Huong” means wishing for the wisdom of the incense burner to always be clear, clearly seeing the impermanence of life. “Giai Thoat Huong” means liberation from birth and death, reincarnation. “Giai Thoat Tri Kien Huong” means seeing and knowing the dharmas, penetrating into the realm of Buddha…

Heritage Magazine