Incense sticks burning in bronze urn at temple

Flat noon light washes the scene, turning the air beneath the pagoda roof into a sheet of bright white. A heavy bronze urn sits centered, its surface worn to a dull, earthy green where oxidation has taken hold. Three thin incense sticks stand upright in the ash, their tips glowing with a small, steady ember that pushes a faint wisp of smoke into the air. White flakes drift down slowly, settling on the dark metal rim and the rough stone floor without melting immediately. The frame is defined by the dark wooden beams of the roof above, creating a natural border around the urn. One flake rests on the rim, its sharp edge catching the harsh daylight against the smooth, pitted bronze.