通過田野調查可知，臺灣西部媽祖廟四十座藏有石香爐，而其總數近 六十件，流行年代為清初至日治時代，基本上二次戰後初期以後逐漸式微。 從材質種類來看，清代石香爐材質以青斗石、砂岩為主；日治時代以後材質 仍偏好青斗石、砂岩，另有新材質的大理石與水泥（磨石子），泉州白石與 觀音山石在各時代則數量零星。整體來說，石香爐仍以使用青斗石的比例最 高。從造形觀察，清代石香爐係以四足、展耳方爐為主；日治時代以後則流 行三足鼎式圓爐和圈足簋式圓爐兩類。 石香爐上的裝飾元素，向我們透露出石香爐是如何被「觀看」與「賦予 意義」的。一方面，石香爐母題中的獅吞腳、獅首與盤龍紋，流行時間長， 風格變異不大，和這些圖像本身具有某種「正式性」與「威權性」有關；同 時，從清代石香爐的標準形制，即獅吞展耳、獅吞腳的造形也可發現，其外 觀具強烈「生命化」之傾向。當信徒將香爐四足處理成獸爪，加上兩側的雙 耳與獅首，便足以讓信徒觸發相應的感受，即威猛、具生命力之反應，而且 其四爪更給予我們一種具攻擊性之特徵。但是，石香爐的這種擬生命化的造 形概念，在日治時代以後便逐漸消失了。

Through field work, it shows from more than 40 Matzu temples in the western Taiwan are found stone incense burners, the quantity around more than 50 pieces. The incense burners were popular from Qing Dynasty to the Japanese occupation and gradually declined in the beginning of World War II. In terms of material, during Qing Dynasty sandstone and green basalt were mostly used and the same materials were continued to be used in the Japanese occupation; nevertheless, some new material, such as marble and terrazzo were also found in use in the same period of time. Among all material, Quanzhou White Stone and Quanyin Stone also represent a very small number at all time. As a whole, the green basalt was the most used material. In view of the shape of stone incense burner, it is found that during Qing Dynasty, most was rectangle, quadruped with ears but since the Japanese occupation, tripod and round legs of round incense burners became more popular. The decoration elements of the stone incense burner reveal to us how the stone incense burners were “watched” and “attached with meanings”. On the one hand, the decoration motives including lion–shaped feet and head as well as dragon pattern were popular for a long time and no obvious stylistic changes is occurred. We can attribute the reason to some kind of “formality” and “authority” represented by these patterns. On the other hand, we observe from the standard decoration pattern mostly found from the incense burners during Qing Dynasty, such as lion–shaped ears (served as handle) and feet, that the pattern of lion conveys the feeling of vitality and force. We can imagine when believers watch the incense burner with beasts’ feet and two ears as well as the lion’s head, these patterns will stimulate the feeling of the vigor and strength, especially seeing the feet of beast which express the force of attack. Despite strong life concept, these patterns gradually decline after the Japanese occupation.

石香爐；臺灣媽祖廟；石頭崇拜；青斗石；砂岩；生命化

stone incense burner；Matzu Temple；stone worship；green basalt；sandstone；life concept