Hanging Lantern with Plum Trees and Bamboo 銅梅竹透釣燈籠どううめたけすかしつりとうろう

Description

Used to make offerings of light to Buddhist deities, this lantern was most likely created in the Tenmyō area of what is now Tochigi Prefecture, a location famous for producing cast iron kettles for tea ceremonies.

This lantern was hung from the eaves of a temple.

A small bowl filled with oil was placed inside, with a wick then inserted and set alight. Lanterns play an important role in Buddhism, with fire offered to the Buddha alongside water, flowers, and incense.

Despite this lantern's beautifully-balanced shape, the main highlights here are the openwork designs of pretty plum blossoms and supple bamboo. These have been meticulously rendered, from the pistils of the blossoms, to the joints and tiny shoots of the bamboo. When the flame was lit, the lantern must have exuded an ethereal, spellbinding beauty with its dancing bamboo and plum blossom silhouettes.