Emperor Wu of Han and the Boshan Censer
The Boshan censer takes the form of immortal mountains, with smoke rising and clouds swirling—the Han people's longing for immortality condensed in a single censer.
The Boshan censer flourished in the Han dynasty. Its lid was carved into the shape of "Boshan" (legendary immortal mountains in the sea such as Fangzhang and Yingzhou). When incense was burned, smoke curled out through the mountain-shaped openings, like the clouds of a fairy realm.
Emperor Wu and Boshan
Emperor Wu of Han was fond of immortals, and many Boshan censers were placed in the palaces of Chang'an, burning incense to imitate clouds and communicate with the immortal realm. The "Gold-Inlaid Boshan Censer" unearthed from the Han tomb at Mancheng, Hebei, is a representative example.
Form and Origins
The Boshan censer is a representative of Han censers inTreatise on Incense Vessels, initiating the later tradition of "figurative" censers, and may be cross-referenced with the Boshan censer entry inIllustrated Catalogue of Incense Vessels.