[Jewelry making - Article 00388] - [Orchid] [Tidbits] Hill Censer

[Benjamin Mark]

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    ... or... Mountain Censer. Origin... the Han dynasty. These were
    incense burners shaped as mountain peaks rising over crested waves in
    the form of islands. They represented the abodes of the Chinese
    Immortals... hermits of perennial youth... both islands and immortals
    dissolving into mist upon the approach of humans. Brigadoon anyone? 

    It is said that the Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di sent an expedition of
    several thousand aristocratic youths to find the islands for it was
    there that the drug preventing death grew. Unfortunately... they
    never returned. Whether they are dead or still alive and well is
    something we mere mortals will never know. 

    Lest there are thems amongst you wot thinks a censer to be a paltry
    gift at best... a trinket of little value to be enjoyed by society's
    fringe members... I am here to tell you you are wrong for it is well
    known that the Queen Mother of the West (not to be confused with the
    Wicked Witch of the West of Dorothy fame) gave Emperor Qin a censer
    depicting one of the isles. And if it's good enough for Queenie and
    Qin... it's good enough for me. 

    Some of these censers include in their makeup tigers and hydras and
    goats and deer and mythological monsters of all sizes and shapes.
    This... as you all know... is a paradigm meant to ensure man
    understands the forces which motivate the universe and which source
    humankind. This is of course theoretical rather than empirical ...
    but I know quite a few folks whose biological origins quite clearly
    stem from mythical monsters which lurk in the deep abysses of
    primeval forests. 

    As an aside... for those rarest of readers who prefer immortality to
    wealth... I have the potion... which I shall impart forthwith. Should
    any of you partake and in about 100 to 200 years from now you find
    you suddenly have an urge to discuss your good fortune at having read
    Tidbits... not to worry. Let me know how to reach you and I'll be in
    touch at a most propitious moment in time. 

    Cinnabar was believed to be transmutable into gold in a furnace. Now
    then... have someone you trust--moi for instance--cast a small vessel
    out of this gold. Place into this vessel your favorite food or drink.
    Could be Lo Mein... could be Maneschewitz Malaga... and eat or drink
    and be merry. Immortality will be yours. Guaranteed. 

    By the way... as an aside... did you know Parthian incense was/is
    known as Gum Benjamin? This is a fact folks. Now how's that for
    quaint? Also... in case you think cannabis is a modern phenomenon...
    they used that as incense too back in them thar days. 

    And of course... I have an image of a censer of outstanding beauty
    to show you. It is made of bronze and gold and silver... and it is in
    the shape of a sacred mountain. It is inhabited by deities and wild
    animals. And if you shrink yourself down in your mind's eye... you
    might envision yourself living among these beings in the depths of
    the mountain cavorting if you will with gods and beasties alike. As
    a parenthetical aside... by a show of hands... who amongst you like 
to
    cavort. Write. Email. Use carrier pigeon or telepathy. I need to
    know this. 

    For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I
    direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will
    scroll down the left side menu till you get to the area that says
    Current Tidbits... and you will get to view an incense burner of the
    highest caliber. 

And there ya have it.
That's it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark
http://www.tyler-adam.com
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