Dragon Head Incense Burner by Bunsai Ogawa

Width: 12.0cm x 7.0cm Height: 8.0cm

Embracing the breath of the dragon - Ryuto Incense Burner by the 6th Ogawa Bunsai

This piece, "Dragon Head Incense Burner," has an unforgettable presence that you will never forget once you see it. It was created by the 6th Ogawa Bunsai (Kyo), and is a piece that embodies both dynamism and spirituality. The main theme of the sculpture is the dragon. Dragons have been revered as sacred animals since ancient times, and in the world of gods and Buddhas, they are considered to be spiritual beings that connect heaven and earth. In his attempt to incorporate the dragon into a tranquil vessel such as an incense burner, Bunsai's solid sculptural ability and deep spirituality can be felt.

The depiction of the dragon in this piece goes beyond mere realism; it embodies the "prayer" and "wish" that well up from deep within the artist. Its sharp yet warm gaze, open mouth, and majestically extending horns and beard all evoke the momentum of a dragon about to soar into the sky, yet somehow also exude a sense of tranquility and solemnity given its use as an incense burner. The dragon's entire figure, enveloped in green glaze, is a symbol of the "green" that Ogawa Bunsai has been exploring for many years, and is the very embodiment of his desire for peace and harmony with nature.

When you see this Dragon Head Incense Burner, you will forget the passage of time for a moment. The depth of the glaze shows different expressions depending on the viewing angle, and when the incense is burned and smoke rises, it permeates the space like the breath of a dragon and quietly seeps into the hearts of those who see it.

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Prayers Entrusted to Greenery - The World of Ogawa Bunsai VI

The creator of this piece, Ogawa Bunsai VI, was born in 1974 as the eldest son of the ceramist Bunsai VI from Gojozaka, Kyoto. He studied sculpture at university, then studied molding and glazes at the Kyoto Prefectural Pottery Technical College and the Municipal Industrial Testing Institute, and took on the name Bunsai VI in 2014. Even after taking over the family name, he has not rested on his laurels, but continues to confront the traditions of Kyoto ware and search for a form of "beauty" that suits the modern era.

Among these, Bunsai has been particularly devoted to his research into "green glazes." While his father, Bunsai V, created many passionate works using red, Bunsai VI was fascinated by the trees in the mountains and the capacity of the earth, and incorporated green into his own works. For Bunsai, green is not just a color, but a form of thought that symbolizes "peace," "comfort," and "coexistence between humans and nature."

In this work, that green is permeated into the dragon's form, going beyond the typical image of dragons such as anger or ferocity, and instead imbuing them with a quiet yet powerful spirit of protection.

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History and techniques engraved in the kiln lineage

The history of the kiln that the Ogawa family has nurtured for 174 years lives quietly within the depths of this incense burner. The first Ogawa Bunsai (Bunsuke) was born in Kaga Province in 1809, and after training in pottery regions around Japan, he learned the round kiln construction method in Arita, Hizen in 1834. In 1847, he opened a kiln under the patronage of the Ichijo family at Kaseyama in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, and was given the character "sai" and family crest, founding Bunsai Kiln.

After the turmoil of the Meiji Restoration, the family moved to Gojozaka, Kyoto in 1873, and has been producing pottery here for six generations ever since. Despite difficulties, such as losing a successor during wartime, Kinji the fifth generation took on the name Bunsai and once again supported the family business, and the current sixth generation, Oki, is adding a more modern aesthetic sense to the business.

The climbing kiln, which has been designated a national tangible cultural property, is proof that it has survived through many eras, and this incense burner can be said to be an item that carries on the memory of that fire.

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Incense burners as a form of prayer

The "Dragon Head Incense Burner" is not just a piece of pottery. It is a form that embodies the history of Bunsai Kiln, the artist's thoughts, the scenery of the times, and the spirit of prayer. An incense burner is originally a tool for creating a pure space, and is also like a boat that carries the smoke of incense to be offered to gods and Buddhas. A dragon, a guardian deity, appears at the bow of the boat. This rich symbolism is a beauty of form that could only have been born from the aesthetic sense and spirituality of the 6th Ogawa Bunsai.

In today's unstable times, the dragon is no longer just a legendary creature; it is a symbol of the "power to transcend" and the "will to harmony," and so should appeal to people's hearts once again.

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When this "Ryuto Kohro" is placed in your space, it becomes a spiritual barrier that goes beyond mere decoration, and begins to live as a "shape of time" that is wrapped in quiet protection and a rich story. Please take a look at this piece of pottery born from 150 years of inheritance of fire and earth.