japanese antique buddhist brass flower plate with lotus flower design
japanese antique buddhist brass flower plate with lotus flower design
Love Japanese Style Like We Do
A lovely piece of old Buddhist art, a Hana Sara, or flower plate. These special plates were used for placing flower petals, that were scattered in a Buddhist ceremony called Sange. The fragrance of the scattered flowers is said to purify the place of Buddhist practice and meditation.
The plate is made of brass with lovely cut outs and etchings of lotus flowers and lotus leaves. There are three rings on the back and a green, white and red silk cord, with a brass end, is attached to each ring. The cord can be removed. The plate can be hung on the wall using one of the rings.
Nowadays colored paper, in the shape of lotus flowers is used, but initially, real flower petals were used. Coming in contact with the wet petals, parts of the brass plate have tarnished and turned a green. This color is much admired in Japan being linked to the concept of wabisabi (appreciation of the old and faded) an aesthetic of the tea ceremony culture. There is even a special expression for the green tarnish - ‘Rokusho ga waku’. The green tarnished copper rooves of old temples and old buildings are also highly regarded in Japan.
The plate has wear, tarnishing and signs of use. There are dents, scratches, some small splits in the cut outs and the outside circular shape is slightly irregular. Still it makes a lovely Buddhist art wall display and is a great piece for a meditation space.
- measures 27 cm (10.6”) in diameter.
- weighs 360 gm.
(listing for brass plate only)
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We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.
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SANGE RITUAL
Sange is a ritual based on a tradition where people and heavenly gods scattered flowers to celebrate the descents of Buddha.
At Buddhist memorial services held in temples, flowers and leaves are scattered to make offerings to Buddha. The sange at Buddhist memorial services is intended to ward off evil and purify the place of Buddhist practice or meditation by the scent of flowers. Sange is accompanied by chanting.
Originally, lotus and other fresh flowers were used but today lotus-shaped colored paper is used instead to make offerings to Buddha.
At Nyubutsu Kaigen, a ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist statue, and at Rakkei Hoyo, a service to celebrate the construction of a temple, a large amount of sange is scattered, making an impressive scene. Some people even collect sange.