Dragon head incense holder by Ogawa Bunsai

Width: 12.0cm x 7.0cm Height: 8.0cm

Embracing the breath of the dragon - Dragon Head Incense Container by Ogawa Bunsai VI

This piece, which has an unforgettable presence once you see it, was created by the sixth generation Ogawa Bunsai (Oki), and is imbued with dynamism and spirituality. The subject of the sculpture is the dragon. Revered since ancient times as an auspicious animal, and in the world of gods and Buddhas, the dragon is considered a spiritual being that connects heaven and earth. Bunsai's attempt to incorporate the dragon, a dragon that has been revered since ancient times as an auspicious animal and is considered a spiritual being that connects heaven and earth, into a tranquil vessel such as an incense container conveys both Bunsai's solid creative ability and deep spirituality.

The depiction of the dragon in this work transcends mere realism, harboring a prayer and a wish welling up from deep within the artist. Its sharp yet warm gaze, open mouth, and majestic movements of horns and beard evoke a sense of momentum, as if it were about to soar into the sky. Yet, given its intended use as an incense holder, it somehow exudes a sense of tranquility and majesty. Enveloped entirely in a green glaze, this dragon truly symbolizes the "green" that Ogawa Bunsai has long pursued, and embodies his desire for peace and harmony in nature. Beholding this work, anyone will instantly lose track of time. The depth of the glaze reveals different expressions depending on the viewing angle, and as the smoke rises from the burning incense, it permeates the space like the dragon's breath, quietly penetrating the viewer's heart.

Prayers Entrusted to Greenery - The World of Ogawa Bunsai VI

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

Among these, Bunsai has been particularly devoted to his research into "green glazes." While his father, the 5th Bunsai, created many passionate works using red, the 6th Bunsai was fascinated by the trees of the mountains and the capacity of the earth, and has 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, transcending the typical image of dragons as "anger" or "ferociousness," and instead imbuing them with a quiet yet powerful spirit of protection.

History and techniques engraved in the kiln lineage

Within this incense holder lies the quiet history of the kiln that the Ogawa family has cultivated for 174 years. The first generation, Ogawa Bunsai (Bunsuke), was born in Kaga Province in 1809, and after traveling around Japan to train in pottery-producing regions, he learned the round kiln construction method in Arita, Hizen, in 1834. In 1847, he opened a kiln at Kaseyama in Kizugawa City, Kyoto Prefecture, under the patronage of the Ichijo family, and founded Bunsai Kiln, taking the character "sai" and the family crest.

After the turmoil of the Meiji Restoration, the family moved to Gojozaka, Kyoto in 1873, where they have continued to produce pottery for six generations. Despite facing difficulties such as losing a successor in war, Kinji the fifth generation took on the name Bunsai and once again supported the family business, and the current sixth generation, Oki, has added 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 holder can also be said to be an item that carries on the memory of that fire.

Incense holders as a form of prayer

These are not just pottery pieces. They are forms that embody the history of the Bunsai kiln, the artist's thoughts, the landscape of the times, and a prayerful spirit. An incense container is originally a tool for creating a pure space, and also a kind of boat that carries the smoke of incense offered to the gods and Buddhas. A dragon, a guardian deity, appears at the bow of the boat. This rich symbolism is a form of beauty that could only have been born from the aesthetic sense and spirituality of the sixth generation Ogawa Bunsai.

In today's unstable times, the dragon is not just a legendary creature, but a symbol of the "power to transcend" and "will to harmony," and it should once again appeal to people's hearts.

When this "Ryuto Incense Container" is placed in your space, it becomes a spiritual barrier that transcends mere decoration, and begins to breathe 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.