Japanese store antique buddhist temple crane and turtle brass candle holders with incense burner, meditation candle holders

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

japanese antique buddhist temple crane and turtle brass candle holders with incense burner, meditation candle holders

(listing for pair of candle holders and incense store burner only)

A nice piece of Buddhist temple art - tsurukame shokudai, or crane and turtle candle holders and a small koro, or incense burner.

The tsurukame style of illumination stand has been produced since the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) and is used in Pure Land Buddhism (jodo shinshu); a tradition of Buddhist teachings that are focused on the Buddha Amida Nyorai.

These smaller sized, old candle holders are made of brass. Elegant, slender cranes stand on top of strong little turtles. The cranes hold long stemmed lotus flowers in their mouths with the petals of the flowers specially formed to support the candle. Lines etched in the brass turtles and cranes give their bodies life and form.

The connection between the crane and the turtle originates in China. In Japan, both the crane and the turtle are symbols of happiness and long life, with the crane said to live for a 1,000 years and the turtle 10,000 years! The lotus flower is considered a plant of purity and enlightenment.

The pair of cranes follows ‘Aun', a Buddhist concept of protection. The male bird stands on the left with its mouth open, scaring away bad luck and evil. The female, standing on the right, with a closed mouth, does not let good fortune escape.

The candle holders are made in two separate parts with the lotus flower and stem section detachable.

Incense was brought to Japan from China and this small koro is similar in style to the Chinese burners, having a Chinese lion on the lid. The lion has its paws wrapped around a houju, the wish-granting jewel of Buddhism, in a protective gesture. Incense is used for purification.

The shokudai and koro are in good vintage condition with a darkened tarnishing from age. They make a great addition to a meditation space and the candle holders a lovely mantelpiece or table center decoration.

- candle holder measures 24 cm (9.4”) tall x 10 cm (4”) across.
- incense burner measures 10 cm (4”) wide x 5 cm (2”) deep x 9.5 cm (3.7”) tall.
- weighs 1,000 gm.

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RED-CROWNED CRANE (TSURU)
For the Japanese, the red-crowned crane symbolizes a long life. It was believed, in the earlier times, that cranes could live up to a thousand years. It was also the belief that cranes had the power to grant wishes and prayers if someone acted selflessly. These beliefs still prevail today in Japan.

Since cranes usually only have one life partner, they represent loyalty. A male and female crane standing happily together also represent a good and long relationship with your partner. The red-crowned cranes are a symbol of strength as they can fly long distances when they migrate, and they have strong and unique mating calls that are listed in the 100 Best Soundscapes of Japan.

JAPANESE TURTLE- MINOGAME
The minogame, in Japan, symbolizes longevity, good luck, and support. It is considered to be the symbol of Kumpira, the god of seafaring people.

Most minogame are believed to live up to 10,000 years. The most striking thing about a mingoame is that it looks like a turtle but its tail is made of seaweed and algae. The best known minogame is from the tale of Urashima Taro.

One day is it said that Taro saw a group of children harming a turtle on a beach. Taro, rescued the turtle and put it in the ocean. The following day Urashima Taro went to the beach and a minogame appeared from the ocean and told Taro that he had saved the daughter of Ryujin, who was the emperor of the sea. The minogame told Taro that the emperor wanted to thank him and gave Taro a pair of magical gills. Taro travelled to the bottom of the sea and met the emperor and his daughter the turtle, who was now a beautiful princess.

Taro stayed under the sea for three days, and when he left the princess gave him a mysterious box called a Tamtebako. She told Urashima Taro that as the box would protect him from harm he could never open it.

Upon arriving back on land Taro found everything had changed and in fact, three hundred years had passed. He became very sad and angry and against the Princess's instructions, he opened the box. Suddenly Taro grew very old and he remembered the Princess's voice warning him not to open the box. Inside the box was Urashima Taro's age! Upon opening the box Urashima Taro turned into a crane.

RENKON-LOTUS
In Buddhism, renkon, or lotus is considered a plant of purity, as it is believed to grow in the heavenly pond where the Buddha lived.

The lotus flower is revered in Japan for it's ability to rise from dirty, murky water to bloom into a beautiful, pure flower. This process symbolizes attaining enlightenment.(being born into a world of struggle - murky water - and reaching spiritual enlightenment - the blossoming lotus). The fleeting beauty of the flower is also compared to the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Lotus root represents a happy, prosperous future without obstacles. When you cut the lotus root and look through the holes, you can see the other side clearly without any interference.