Lance Carson
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. In China, incense is used in a wide range of cultural activities, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life. Chinese incense is made from diverse ingredients, with much overlap with traditional Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia. The four most important ingredients before the 6th century were Lan and Hui flowers, sandalwood, and camphor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | Used for over 2000 years, dating back to the Neolithic period and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. |
| Use | Used in religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life. |
| Ingredients | Agarwood, sandalwood, camphor, musk, clove, frankincense, and Elemi resin. |
| Forms | Sticks, cones, powder, paper, and rope. |
| Colour | Typically yellow or red, with black being rarer. |
| Burn Time | Varies depending on the form, with spiral incense having long burn times. |
| Cultural Significance | An important part of Chinese culture and trade, with a sophisticated art form called xiangdao (香道) involving various utensils and ceremonies. |
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What You'll Learn
Chinese incense in religious ceremonies
Chinese incense, known as 'xiang' (香), has been used in a variety of cultural and religious contexts for thousands of years. In religious ceremonies, incense is used for purification and healing rituals, as well as for worship and prayer.
In traditional Chinese religion, burning incense is believed to open up communication with deities and is essential for making connections with spiritual beings. Incense ash is required to found new temples, and it is used to demarcate the territory of a deity. Chinese religious practitioners also burn incense during pilgrimages to maintain relationships between temple communities.
Incense is commonly used in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, where the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors.
The use of incense in Chinese religious ceremonies can also be seen in the practices of the Bai people of Shaxi Township in Southwest China. The Bai people burn incense during festivals and ceremonies, such as Liuyueliu and Jiuyuejiu, which are Buddhist festivals celebrated at temples. Incense is also burned at family gravesites during picnics, along with the singing of sutras and the placement of fresh willow branches on the graves.
In addition to its religious significance, incense also holds a cultural significance in China. The Chinese developed a sophisticated art form with incense burning called xiangdao (香道), which involves various utensils and containers used to burn incense. Incense has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine, with similar ingredients and processing techniques used in incense and medicinal preparations.
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Incense as a cultural pastime
Incense has been an integral part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, with records of its use dating back over 2000 years. It is believed to have been used in China since the Neolithic period, gaining prominence during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The Han dynasty saw an increased trade in more fragrant foreign incense, and the Tang dynasty marked a period of cultural, economic, and social development influenced by international trade and exchanges, leading to a shift in Chinese incense taste and ingredients.
The Song dynasty, a golden age for art, literature, and poetry, was also a prolific period for incense use. The nobility enjoyed incense as a popular cultural pastime, even building rooms specifically for incense ceremonies. Poets of the time, such as Huang Tingjian, often referenced incense in their works, reflecting its importance in their daily lives. The great inventions of gunpowder, the compass, and printing also occurred during this period, showcasing the overall cultural flourishing of the time.
Incense played a significant role in various aspects of Chinese culture, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life. In Chinese folk religion, incense sticks, also known as "joss sticks," are burned in temples, before the threshold of homes or businesses, and in shrines. The term "joss" is derived from the Latin "deus" (god) via Javanese "dejos" and Chinese pidgin English. The burning of incense is believed to bring wealth and health to villages and is considered an offering to heaven or the devas when burned before a door or open window.
The art of incense burning, known as xiangdao (香道), is a sophisticated practice in China, involving various utensils and paraphernalia, such as tongs, spatulas, and special moulds to create ideograms with incense powder. The process of creating and burning incense is considered an art form, with ancient books dedicated to the subject and artists focusing on remaking incense from thousand-year-old formulas. The most common type of bamboo used for incense sticks is Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens due to its thick wood and ease of burning.
Incense is also believed to have physiological and psychological benefits. Traditional Chinese medicines often incorporated incense ingredients, and medical texts such as the Bencao Gangmu pharmacopoeia describe the therapeutic properties of specific types of incense. For example, camphor was recommended for treating eye troubles, including cataracts.
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Incense in traditional Chinese medicine
Incense has been used in China for over 2000 years, with records of its use dating back to the Neolithic period. It has been used in a wide range of cultural activities, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life.
The use of incense in traditional Chinese medicine is closely linked to its use in religious and spiritual practices. Incense is believed to have physiological and psychological benefits. For example, according to the Bencao Gangmu pharmacopoeia, "camphor cured evil vapors in the heart and belly and was especially recommended for eye troubles, including cataracts."
The ingredients used in incense production often overlap with those used in traditional Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia. For instance, camphor, also known as "dragon brain" in Chinese, is a prized ingredient in incense due to its rarity and is believed to have medicinal properties. Similarly, aloeswood, or agarwood, is a key ingredient in many incense blends and is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. Other ingredients commonly used in both incense and traditional Chinese medicine include sandalwood, musk, and various plant and animal products.
The process of burning incense, known as xiangdao (香道), has also been developed into a sophisticated art form in China, involving various utensils and paraphernalia, such as tongs, spatulas, and moulds to create ideograms with incense powder. This ritualistic practice is often associated with other arts, such as tea drinking and guqin playing.
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Incense in daily life
Incense has been an integral part of Chinese culture and daily life for millennia. Its use in China dates back to the Neolithic period, with the earliest documented use of incense in ancient China occurring during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). The Chinese word for incense, "xiang" (香), also means "fragrance", "scent", "aroma", "perfume", or "spice".
In ancient China, incense was composed of herbs and plant products such as Lan and Hui flowers, Sichuan peppers, cassia, cinnamon, styrax, and sandalwood. These ingredients were chosen for their aromatic properties and were often combined with essential oils. The Lan flower, in particular, became synonymous with Chinese aristocratic high morality. Incense was used to fragrance rooms and garments, as well as in religious and formal ceremonies, traditional medicine, and as a gift.
The use of incense in China continued to evolve and spread across different dynasties. During the Song Dynasty (960-1279), incense was highly valued for its aesthetic and aromatic qualities. The "right" incense was considered a sign of style and refinement, with the nobility enjoying incense as a popular cultural pastime. Incense specialists (known as "xiangpo") would cater exclusively to customers' incense needs, and incense-infused foods and drinks were commonly found in restaurants and snack stores. The Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties further embraced the use of incense, integrating it into their cultural and daily lives.
Today, incense continues to play a significant role in Chinese daily life. It is used in meditation and spiritual practices, enhancing the meditative experience by creating a serene atmosphere that invites calm and focus. Incense is also believed to have physiological and psychological benefits, promoting physical and mental well-being. Additionally, the art of burning incense, known as "xiangdao" (香道), has developed into a sophisticated practice involving various utensils and containers, often used to enhance personal spaces and accompany other arts such as tea drinking and guqin playing.
The production of incense in China has also become a refined process. The most common type of bamboo used for incense sticks is Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens due to its thick wood and easy burnability. The bamboo is carefully trimmed, soaked, peeled, and split to create thin sticks that are then coated with fragrant incense material.
Overall, the use of incense in China has a long and rich history, deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual traditions. It continues to be an indispensable part of daily life, offering a sensory journey through time and a sacred bridge between the earthly and the divine.
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Incense as a trade commodity
Incense has been an important trade commodity throughout history, with its use in China dating back over 2000 years. The earliest documented use of incense in China comes from the ancient Chinese, who employed incense composed of herbs and plant products such as cassia, cinnamon, styrax, and sandalwood in formalized ceremonial rites. The use of incense in China has evolved over time, with different dynasties influencing its production, trade, and consumption.
During the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), increased trade along the Silk Road brought "foreign" fragrances into the country, including sandalwood, camphor, benzoin, and frankincense. These imported fragrances were considered superior to local incense materials, which were referred to as "poor man's incense." The culture of incense and fragrance in China continued to develop, with the Tang Dynasty (600-900 CE) and the Song Dynasty (900-1200 CE) marking a crescendo in the use of incense and overall economic and cultural development.
The Ming Dynasty, which was the first indigenously Chinese dynasty after Mongol rule, also played a significant role in the trade of incense. The imperial kiln in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, produced special court porcelains, including incense burners, that set new standards for connoisseurship and high-grade incense creations. The maritime voyages of Ming China brought valuable returns and contributed to the development of a market for commodities.
Today, incense in China continues to be an important trade commodity, with various types of incense and incense-related products available. Traditional Chinese incense is often shaped into small balls instead of sticks and burned using electric incense burners. The top-quality incense, made from rare and valuable ingredients such as agarwood, can fetch prices of over $1000 per gram.
Overall, incense has played a significant role in China's cultural and economic development, with its use spanning from religious ceremonies and traditional medicine to daily life and artistic pursuits. The trade of incense has influenced the way it is produced and consumed in China, with foreign fragrances and production techniques shaping the evolution of Chinese incense over time.
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Frequently asked questions
Chinese incense is made from diverse ingredients with much overlap with traditional Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia. Some common ingredients include sandalwood, aloeswood (also known as agarwood, jinko/jinkoh in Japanese, or oud/oudh in Arabic), camphor, and "lan" and "hui" flowers.
Incense in China is traditionally used in a wide range of Chinese cultural activities including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and in daily life. Incense is believed to have physiological and psychological benefits. For example, according to the Bencao Gangmu pharmacopoeia, "camphor cured evil vapors in the heart and belly, and was especially recommended for eye troubles, including cataract." Incense is also used for aesthetic reasons, aromatherapy, meditation, and as a deodorant or insect repellent.
Chinese incense can be purchased at local Chinese grocery stores, as well as online on websites like AliExpress and Amazon.
