page_title: Kōbako
hierarchical_section_title: Kōbako
caption_attribution_description: English: A black and gold lacquer rectangular "ko bako" with overlapping lid cusped midway on two long sides; interior with six small covered boxes. On top of lid are four carp in a stream with low growth of water plants; interior boxes have designs on top of lids of streams and ponds with various groups of trees and flowers, bird and butterflies; exterior sides of covered boxes with four different patterns of arabesques, diaper ("asanoha"), brocade, and swastika. Design on top of lid in gold and brown "togidashi" of various shades with fish in "hiramakie" on gold and red lacquer; flowers in gold and red lacquer with inlaid aogai; background of black "roiro" with "nashiji." Six small interior boxes with "hiramakie" in gold, interior and bottoms with "nashiji;" interior of main box with dense "nashiji" and applied gold and silver foils; all in highly polished lacquer, rims with "kinji."
context_page_description: A kōbako is an incense storage box used in kōdō, the traditional Japanese art which involves using and appreciating incense within a structure of codified conduct. It can be used to store the items needed for the incense-comparing games. called kumikō and genjikō. The similar word kobako means "small box" in Japanese.
  The kōbako is somewhat similar to a kōgō, an incense box used in the Japanese tea ceremony. However, "the kōbako was usually a little larger than the kōgō, and sometimes had a small tray or small boxes to go with it."
  Often decorated with lacquer and showing a high degree of craftmanship, kōbako are studied and collected by those who appreciate Japanese arts and crafts.
context_section_description: A kōbako (香箱) is an incense storage box used in kōdō (香道, "Way of Incense"), the traditional Japanese art which involves using and appreciating incense within a structure of codified conduct. It can be used to store the items needed for the incense-comparing games. called kumikō (組香) and genjikō (源氏香).  The similar word kobako (小箱; note the short o rather than long ō in the first syllable) means "small box" in Japanese.
  The kōbako is somewhat similar to a kōgō, an incense box used in the Japanese tea ceremony.  However, "the kōbako was usually a little larger than the kōgō, and sometimes had a small tray or small boxes to go with it."
  Often decorated with lacquer and showing a high degree of craftmanship, kōbako are studied and collected by those who appreciate Japanese arts and crafts.
caption: Set of boxes for storing incense wood, late 19th-early 20th century
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