December 07, 2021

Japanese Incense Holders & Koro 香炉

The art of enjoying Japanese incense goes beyond just the burning of the incense stick, but also extends to the entire experience - including what holds the incense. The beauty of a simple holder or the elegance of the incense koro 香炉 (burner or censer) that holds the incense can often provide as much allure as the fragrance radiating from it, complementing and enhancing the experience of listening to incense both during and afterward.

One of the more common questions asked by those experiencing Japanese incense for the first time is if a special holder is necessary. In general, there are typically two approaches to safely burning Japanese incense: using a specifically designed weighted holder to hold the incense, or placing the incense in rice chaff ash held in a koro (burner).

Japanese Incense Holders

The simplest way to burn Japanese incense is using an incense holder. Usually made of ceramic or metal, holders range in shape from simple modern metal spheres, to ceramic squares, to miniature ginkgo leaves or sakura blossoms or even shapes like small animals such as rabbits or cats.

What Japanese incense holders have in common generally is their small size of less than an inch square, a hole or holes used to place incense in, and their budget-friendly cost.

But holders do have several disadvantages. First, they are just a weighted holder, and do not provide a method to catch the burnt ash produced. Secondly, most holders do not hold incense vertically. Burning incense at an angle will slightly change the intensity and consistency of its fragrance. Finally, the portion of the incense stick inside the holder usually does not burn.

Japanese Koro 香炉

Koro (burner or censer)have often been considered a high Japanese art form prized for their craftsmanship and eloquent detail, and are often a sought after collectable in their own right. Koro are often made from ceramic, but are also available in cast iron, copper, or alloy forms.

In general, the advantages of koro is that they provide a total system for holding incense and catching the ash created while burning. The added advantage is that they can also be used to enhance the listening experience with their own unique beauty. Used in combination with rice chaff ash, koro are able to hold incense in a vertical orientation, allowing for optimal burning angle. Finally, often more refined koro have lids that can be put in place after use to conceal the ash, leading to a more tidy and elegant appearance in the burning space.

The disadvantages of koro generally center around their price and the use of ash.

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Learn more with the book: The Fragrant Path: A Guide to the Japanese Art of Incense. Filled with practical suggestions, useful tips, and an exploration of the history, selection, use, and appreciation of this uniquely Japanese art form, The Fragrant Path offers a rare, comprehensive look into the Japanese art of incense in the first in-depth English-language book on the subject in nearly three decades.


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