Incense at Temples and Shrines 寺や神社の香炉

Across the Way
Slowly a mourning in song
Drawn from a flute

向こうで
哀哭でゆっくり歌
笛から汲む

Above is a photo from Taiyuji-Tera (Temple) in Osaka just outside of Umeda. (It's a short walk unless you are lost...) I'll Return to Taiyuji-Tera another day. Today I wanted to address another form of purification in Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines.

Kouro 香炉　- (Incense Braziers).

Many, but not all Buddhist Temples in Japan are equipped with Kouro. Kouro are deep basins often covered with a small roof. Inside the basin is a large pile of ash. This ash is used to support the long sticks of incense that can be purchased at the gate or inside the temple itself.

Buddhist Temples in China and Tibet will often use coils of incense hanging from rafters or also inside of basins. Japanese temples are somewhat unique in using the straight sticks of incense, however it isn't unheard of to see it in China, Korea, etc.

What is the purpose of the Kouro?

In Shinto shrines the patrons will purify their person in order to entice the deity to come and be present for the ceremony or prayer. In Buddhist temples the incense is likely being used to purify the location.

However.... It is not unusual to see people wafting the smoke from the Kouro over themselves and inhaling (Incense is carcinogenic by the way!). This is obviously a method of self purification to prepare to be in the presence of the Bodhisattva.

It is important to understand that Buddhist and Shinto religions and religious sites are often intermingled in Japan. And trappings of both are often found in each others temples and shrines.

An incense basin in Shanghai, China. (Temple name unknown.)



You can see the large basins full of incense. The amount of smoke and number of basins indicates to be that the incense is being used to purify the location.

Doug at Japan: Life and Religion discusses the differences between Buddhism before and after it came to the Japans. He mentions that Buddhism did not normally have the same purification beliefs that Shinto did. Instead certain behaviors like bowing or circling the Buddha were practiced out of respect and obeisance.

-If you are fond of Japanese or Chinese culture, it pays to visit both and see the differences and the level of refinement (or just change) that the Japanese have taken with Chinese ideas. One big difference is the disdain for photography at Chinese Temples. Photographer BEWARE!


-Reference the Japanse translation.... Yes, yes, I know the verb Kumu (To ladle/draw water) doesn't work with a flute....


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