Antonio Mcgowan
Incense has been used in Asia for thousands of years, with a long history in China, Japan, and Korea. It is used in a variety of cultural and religious contexts, including worship, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and in daily life. Incense is made from a variety of plants and minerals, with ingredients and methods varying across the region. In China, incense is known as xiang and has been used since the Neolithic period, with the practice becoming more prominent during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. The Tang and Song dynasties marked a period of increased economic and cultural development in China, with incense playing a significant role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, daily life, worship, gifts for celebratory occasions |
| History | Used in China since the Neolithic period, with increased prominence during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. |
| The Han dynasty saw an increase in trade and acquisition of foreign incense materials. | |
| The Tang and Song dynasties marked a peak in incense use, with the development of new forms such as incense sticks and seal incense. | |
| Ingredients | Lan & Hui flowers, Sichuan Peppers, Cassia, Aloeswood/Agarwood, Sandalwood, Camphor, Musk, Clove, Frankincense, Myrrh |
| Production | Bamboo species, such as Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens, are commonly used for the sticks. |
| The Lin-xiang process involves tossing incense powder over wet sticks, while Nuo-xiang involves kneading incense paste around sticks. | |
| Culture | Incense burning is considered an art form in China, known as xiangdao, with various utensils and paraphernalia used in the process. |
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What You'll Learn
Religious ceremonies and worship
Incense is used in religious ceremonies and worship in many Asian countries, including China, Japan, India, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
China
In China, incense is an essential part of traditional religious ceremonies and worship. It is used to open up a connection with spiritual beings and to establish and maintain religious communities. Incense is also used to demarcate the territory of a deity and to maintain relationships between temple communities. The burning of incense is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. In traditional Chinese religion, incense is burned daily, and there are many different types of sticks used for different purposes or on different festive days. The colour of the sticks varies, with the most common being yellow, red, or black. Thick sticks are used for special ceremonies, such as funerals. In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, which are either hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands.
The use of incense in China dates back thousands of years, with the first recorded use occurring during the Neolithic period. The art of incense burning, known as xiangdao (香道), involves various utensils and containers used to burn incense, such as tongs, spatulas, and special moulds to create ideograms with incense powder. The most common type of bamboo used for producing incense sticks is Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens, as it produces thick wood and burns easily.
Japan
In Japan, incense is used in Shinto shrines dedicated to the deity Inari Okami or the Seven Lucky Gods. The sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash, as the sticks lack a supporting core that does not burn.
India
Incense holds a significant role in Indian religious ceremonies and worship, with the first recorded use occurring in the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BC. It is mentioned in ancient Indian texts such as the Rigveda, and its use has continued for centuries in Hindu rituals.
Other Asian Countries
Incense is also used in religious ceremonies and worship in other Asian countries, including Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines. It plays a crucial role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Taoist and Shinto practices.
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Traditional medicine
Incense has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. It is believed to have physiological and psychological benefits. In fact, the craft of making traditional Chinese medical incense was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2009.
There are over 400 types of incense ingredients used in Chinese incense, with many unique to China as they depend on local plants. Some of the most commonly used ingredients include: aloeswood, sandalwood, camphor, musk, Sichuan peppers, cassia, and Nanmu powder. One of the most popular types of incense is made by combining sandalwood and agarwood powder, placing the mixture into a pear, steaming the pear, and drying the contents inside.
Chinese herb incense is typically used for medicinal purposes to improve overall health and is one of the most popular incenses used in Chinese medicine. It can be used as aromatherapy to purify the air and boost immunity. It is also believed by some to be superior to medical incense-making.
The oldest textual source on incense is the Vedas, specifically the Atharvaveda and the Rigveda. Incense-burning was used as a medicinal tool and is considered the first phase of Ayurveda, which uses incense as an approach to healing.
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Daily life
Incense has been a part of daily life in East Asia, particularly in China, for thousands of years. The use of incense in China dates back to the Neolithic period, with evidence of its use in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. During the Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), there was an increased trade in foreign incense materials, and the use of incense became more prominent.
In daily life, incense has been used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Aromatic and aesthetic purposes: Incense is known for its fragrant smoke and aromatic properties, and has been used to scent homes, clothes, and personal items. In the Song dynasty, it was common for women to wear incense-infused clothes and cosmetics, leaving a lingering trail of aroma.
- Art and enhancement of personal spaces: The Chinese developed the art form of xiangdao (香道), which involves burning incense with various utensils and containers. It is often used to enhance personal spaces and accompany other arts such as tea drinking and guqin playing.
- Timekeeping: With the introduction of Buddhism, calibrated incense sticks and incense clocks were used for timekeeping.
- Medicine and health: Incense has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and for medicinal purposes, such as treating respiratory symptoms and reducing the risk of lung cancer among smokers.
- Rituals and ceremonies: Incense is used in various rituals and ceremonies, including religious and ancestral worship, as well as in offerings to deities.
- Writing and creativity: During the Song dynasty, intellectuals used incense while writing poetry, composing music, and for contemplation. Incense was often infused into the ink, with musk, camphor, and clove being popular ingredients.
- Cooking and food preparation: Incense has been used as a cooking spice and in meat preparations. In the Song dynasty, it was common to find incense-infused foods and drinks in restaurants and snack stores.
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Cultural activities
Incense has been used in China for over 2000 years and has been a part of many cultural activities. In ancient times, incense was used in religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life.
During the Song dynasty (960-1279), incense was a significant part of economic and social life. The nobility enjoyed incense as a popular cultural pastime, going so far as to build rooms specifically for incense ceremonies. The "right" incense was a sign of style and refinement, and innovations during this time included the first incense sticks, seal incense, and the development of a minimalist style of incense burners. Incense was also infused into ink, giving it a memorable aroma and superior resistance to moisture.
In terms of religious practices, incense is burned during worship in Sunni Muslim Hui Gedimu and Yihewani ceremonies, which is viewed as a Daoist or Buddhist influence. The Hui, or "White-capped HuiHui", use incense during worship, while the Salar, or "Black-capped HuiHui", consider it a heathen ritual and denounce it.
Incense is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. The dried powdered bark of Persea nanmu is used for its mucilaginous qualities, helping to bind the other powdered ingredients together.
Additionally, there is a sophisticated art form associated with incense burning in China called xiangdao (香道). This involves using various paraphernalia and utensils in ceramic containers to burn incense, such as tongs, spatulas, and special moulds to create ideograms with incense powder.
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Ancestor veneration
Incense is used in a wide range of Chinese cultural activities, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and in daily life. In the context of ancestor veneration, incense is burnt at ancestral altars, which are typically placed on the north wall of the house. Ancestor veneration is a traditional Chinese practice that revolves around the ritual celebration of deified ancestors and tutelary deities of people with the same surname, organised into lineage societies in ancestral shrines. It is believed that ancestral spirits watch over the lives of their living descendants from the afterlife and can bring blessings, prosperity, and even calamity to the living. As such, incense is lit before the altar daily, and significant announcements are made to the ancestors. Offerings such as favourite foods, beverages, and spirit money are also given bimonthly and on special occasions.
In traditional Chinese martial arts, ancestor worship is prevalent, and a traditional school, called a "Wuguan" ("Martial Hall"), will often feature an ancestral altar with pictures or paintings of lineage teachers, lineage founders, and sometimes Buddhist or Daoist deities. Similarly, in Japan, ancestor veneration includes praying to the ancestors of the Imperial Family, who are seen as the founders of the nation and the ancestors of all Japanese people.
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Frequently asked questions
Asian incense, known as xiang (Chinese: 香) in China, has been used for thousands of years. It was used in ancient religious and court ceremonies, as well as in daily life. The use of incense rose in prominence during the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, and it reached its height during the Song dynasty.
The ingredients of incense vary across Asia. In China, incense was traditionally made from Lan and Hui flowers, Sichuan Peppers, and Cassia. After the 6th century, the main ingredients became Aloeswood, Sandalwood, Camphor, and Musk. In Japan, incense is often made from Agarwood.
Incense is used in Asia for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, traditional medicine, and daily life. In China, incense is burned as an offering to ancestors or deities. Incense is also used in Japan and Korea for cultural and religious events, and it is often given as a gift for celebratory occasions.
The smell of Asian incense varies depending on the ingredients used. Chinese incense made from Aloeswood, for example, has a sweet and almost floral aroma. Sandalwood incense has a warm, smooth, and long-lasting fragrance.
Asian incense can be purchased from a variety of sources, including online retailers like AliExpress and local Chinese or Japanese stores. However, it is important to note that the quality of the incense may vary.
