Blue-and-white porcelain incense box with qilin, Izushi ware

Kōgō is an incense container use for burning incense and decorative purpose at tea ceremonies. This particular example comes with detailed brushed painting of a kirin (qílín in Chinese), a mythical divine creature said to appear whenever an emperor in China ruled with benevolence. On the inside of the lid are written the words Tanseki-jo, Shōryūken sei (made by Shōryūken, Izushi Castle town, Tajma), probably indicating that this is an example of Terayashiki Kiln pottery.