CHINA ARQUEOLOGIA golden-age-chinese-archayeolog

generally bowl-shaped, with a cover and a stand of
lotus shape. Sometimes, smaller lotus blossoms on
stems are shown emerging on either side of the
main censer.
The present censer is of a standard Tang
dynasty type but is one of the largest known 3 —
almost twice the size of a similar six-legged censer,
dated 741, found packed with incense in the reliquary
deposit of the Qingshan Monastery at Lintong
near Xi'an, excavated in 1985- 4 Its preeminent
position in the innermost chamber suggests that,
like the Qingshan censer, it was probably used
during the ceremonies to enshrine the Buddha relic
in its eight-fold set of nesting caskets. The lid is
crowned by a broad lotus bud, pierced to allow the
fragrant smoke to escape. On the curved shoulders
of the lid are five lotus blossoms, each supporting
a tortoise, from whose mouth issue two wreaths
of incense smoke. The lotuses, tortoises, and
the encircling stems and foliage are all worked in
repousse, with further chasing and gilding. A broad,
flat rim overhangs the sides of the vessel itself,
which is supported on five sturdy legs issuing out
of the mouths of dragons; these legs are fastened
to the body by means of rivets around the dragons'
manes. In the spaces between them hang knotted
festoons, each framing what appears to be an
embroidered ball. Remaining space on the vessel's
sides is filled with incised wreaths of incense
smoke, similar to those depicted issuing from the
mouths of the tortoises on the lid. Thus, even
without the actual burning of sandalwood or other
incense materials, the censer continues to serve
its original function.
The stand is in the form of a flat tray, to which
the five legs and intermediate festoons have been
473 FAMEN MONASTERY AT FUFENC