Incense burner with openwork lid

Description

Incense burners have been an important feature of Japan’s ritual culture since the introduction of Buddhism in the sixth century. In homes, burners like this were also used to perfume garments, or when hosting guests. In the eleventh century novel The Tale of Genji, incense was particularly important in the courting process. Courting aristocrats were rarely given the opportunity to see one another face-to-face—they relied instead on partial glimpses stolen between folding screens or through the slats of blinds. In this context, the “way of fragrance,” or kōdō, could heighten the sense of intimacy between lovers, who communicated through scent. In a passage from the Tale of Genji, for example, Genji’s brother Hotaru is forbidden to see the lady he is courting. His only impression of her is obtained through her selection of incense when he visits Genji’s mansion.