Yuki Hayama
万花彩祭器 Offering Bowl with Ten Thousand Flowers
Ceramics
H4 5/8 x W24 ¾ x D5 5/8 in,
H11.6 x W63 x D14.2 cm
H11.6 x W63 x D14.2 cm
C21977
Further images
Since ancient times, flowers have symbolized life. This incense burner with a motif of'Ten Thousand Flowers' depicts lotuses that rise from the mud, but which cannot be tainted by it. A lotus seed buried in the mud in the Jomon period (more than 2,000 years ago) has awoken in modern Japan to produce an incense burner embellished with highly fragrant flowers. Seasonal Japanese flowers are drawn on this incense burner, along with Jomon lotuses, to celebrate life-as beautiful and as strong as it is.