Antonio Mcgowan
Incense is an aromatic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonies. Incense is burned in various ways, depending on the type and the cultural context. For example, in some cultures, incense is burned directly on a heat source or hot metal plate, while in others, it is placed in a censer or thurible, a special container for burning incense. The act of burning incense, known as censing, is often associated with religious ceremonies and can symbolise honour, respect, blessing, and celebration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of Censing | The act of burning incense, usually in a religious ceremony |
| Types of Incense | Direct-burning, Indirect-burning, Powder, Paper, Rope, Granulated, Sticks, Coiled, Chips or blocks |
| Incense Burning Techniques | Placed directly on a heat source, Placed on hot metal or in a censer, Lit and blown out, Spooned onto coals |
| Incense Burning Vessels | Censer, Thurible, Mabkhara, Egōro, Shǒulú, Boat, Incense Clock |
| Religious Use | Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Islam |
| Symbolism | Honour, Respect, Blessing, Celebration, Purification, Prayer, Sacrifice |
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What You'll Learn
Incense types: direct-burning vs. indirect-burning
Incense is available in various forms and can be broadly categorized into two types: direct-burning and indirect-burning incense. The preference for one type over the other varies with culture, tradition, and personal taste.
Direct-burning incense, also known as combustible incense, is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving a glowing ember that smoulders and releases a smoky fragrance. The incense is made of a combustible base that not only binds the fragrant material together but also allows the incense to burn with a self-sustained ember that propagates slowly and evenly through the entire piece of incense. This type of incense is usually found in the form of incense sticks and cones. The incense sticks are made with a wooden core, typically bamboo, as it is strong, fast-growing, and relatively odourless. Finely ground bamboo or charcoal is mixed with a binding agent and then pressed onto a bamboo stick or moulded into a cone shape. The incense sticks or cones are then dipped in fragrance oils, absorb them, and are then left to cure, which essentially means to dry. Direct-burning incense made this way is durable and transportable. Backflow incense cones are a novel form of direct-burning incense that creates a waterfall smoke effect when placed on a backflow burner.
Indirect-burning incense, also called non-combustible incense, is a combination of aromatic ingredients that are not prepared in any particular way or encouraged into any particular form, leaving it mostly unsuitable for direct combustion. It does not contain combustible material and requires a separate heat source, such as charcoal or glowing embers, to produce fragrant smoke. The incense can be in the form of loose incense powder, which is burned in special censers or incense clocks. The powder is packed into long trails on top of wood ash using a stencil and then ignited. This type of incense can also be in the form of scented chips or blocks called bakhoor, which are burned in most Arab countries. The duration of burning for indirect-burning incense varies with the texture of the material. Finer ingredients tend to burn more rapidly, while coarsely ground or whole chunks may be consumed very gradually as they have less surface area.
Censing, or the burning of incense, is commonly done in religious ceremonies to express honour, respect, blessing, and celebration.
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Incense burners: censers, thuribles, and mabkharas
Burning incense for a censing is usually done as part of a religious ceremony. Censing may be used to express honour, respect, blessing, and celebration in a liturgy.
Incense burners, also known as censers, thuribles, or mabkharas, have been used in religious and spiritual ceremonies for centuries. Let's take a closer look at each of these types of incense burners:
Censers are vessels used for burning incense, with the earliest known examples dating back to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. The modern Chinese term for censer is "xianglu", which translates to "incense burner". Censers can be made of wood, metal, or ceramic and are designed to hold the incense and catch the ash. They come in various shapes, including round, single-footed stemmed basins, and hill censers, which are believed to depict sacred mountains like Mount Kunlun or Mount Penglai.
Thuribles are a type of censer that is commonly used in Christian traditions, as well as in Gnostic Churches, Freemasonry, and ceremonial magic. They are usually made of silver, brass, or gold-plated metals and consist of a metal bowl with a lid, pierced by holes to allow the fragrance to escape. The bowl holds the charcoal and incense, and the lid is attached to chains, which are often symbolic in number, with three outer chains representing the Holy Trinity and an inner chain representing the Oneness of God.
Mabkharas, on the other hand, are incense burners used in Arabic and Islamic cultures. While they serve a similar purpose to censers and thuribles, mabkharas are often designed with intricate patterns and decorations, reflecting the aesthetic values of their cultural origins. Mabkharas can be made from various materials, including metal, wood, or ceramic, and they come in different shapes and sizes.
In addition to these three main types, it is worth noting that incense burners can also vary in design and material depending on the specific cultural and religious traditions in which they are used. For example, in Taoist and Buddhist temples, thick coiled incense may be hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands.
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Incense in religious ceremonies: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and more
Incense is used in many religious ceremonies and rituals around the world. The use of incense in religious contexts is thought to have originated in China, and spread to other parts of East Asia, including Korea, Japan, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Buddhism
Incense is used in Buddhist rituals and ceremonies, particularly in East Asia. In Buddhism, incense is used to purify the surroundings, and to summon various deities and figures, including buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods, and demons. In temples, the interiors are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or ancestor. In a home altar, it is customary to light the candle first, and then to light the incense from the candle.
Christianity
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible, and it has been employed in Christian worship since ancient times. Incense is used in prayer and worship, and the smoke is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. Incense is used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran Churches, Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic Churches, and some Anglican Churches. It is also used in some Christian groups such as Methodism.
Islam
Incense is burned in Islam to create a pleasant aroma in places of worship, though it does not carry any specific religious significance. Incense is used in the Tahfidh graduation ceremony, and in the regular rite of purifying and cleansing the Ka'aba in Makkah.
Judaism
Incense is used in contemporary Judaism in the Havdalah ceremony ending the Sabbath. In ancient times, incense was used in the Second Temple, and some Jews study its composition for future use in a restored Temple.
Mandaeism
In Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta by priests to establish laufa (communion) between humans and celestial beings during rituals such as baptism and death mass, as well as during priest initiation ceremonies.
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Incense as a symbol: purification, hospitality, and prayer
Incense has been used for centuries in various cultures and religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, Christianity, and Islam. The act of burning incense, known as censing, is often associated with symbolic meanings and rituals. Three of the most common symbols and purposes of burning incense are purification, hospitality, and prayer.
Purification
Incense is often used in purification rituals and to perfume the air. In the Christian tradition, the smoke from burning incense is believed to symbolise the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, as depicted in Psalm 141 (140), verse 2: "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice." Similarly, in Islam, incense is used in the rite of purifying and cleansing the Ka'aba in Makkah, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The sweet-smelling smoke is believed to uplift the souls of pilgrims visiting the site.
Hospitality
In many Arab countries, burning incense is a customary gesture of hospitality. Incense, often in the form of scented chips or blocks called bakhoor, is passed among guests as a welcoming tradition. This practice is deeply rooted in Arab culture and has been a part of their traditions for centuries.
Prayer
Incense is frequently used as an aid in prayer and worship across various religions. In Christianity, the smoke from burning incense is believed to symbolise the prayers of the saints rising to heaven, as mentioned in the Revelation of John. In Buddhism and Taoism, worshippers light and burn sticks of incense, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. The sticks of incense are then placed vertically or horizontally into individual censers, depending on the specific tradition and the status of the deity.
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Incense preparation: powder, paper, rope, and more
Incense preparation methods vary depending on the form of incense desired. Incense can be in the form of paper, rope, powder, or cones and sticks. Here are the preparation methods for each of these forms:
Powder Incense
To make powdered incense, start by choosing your preferred wood or spice ingredients. Popular choices include sandalwood, slippery elm, wild cherry, willow, ash, birch, cedar, oak, pine, frankincense, and benzoin. You can also use wine, honey, dried fruits, and fragrant hydrosols. It is recommended to use at least one resin or wood as a base. The chosen ingredients should then be pulverized into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Electric coffee grinders should be avoided, as they produce too much heat, which can cause the loss of vital chemicals from the ingredients. Once the ingredients are pulverized, they can be mixed and stored in an airtight container. When ready for use, place a pinch of the powder on a non-burnable surface and light it.
Paper Incense
To make paper incense, you will need absorbent paper, tinctures or essential oils, and potassium nitrate. Cut the paper into strips, approximately six inches long and one inch wide. Prepare a solution of potassium nitrate in warm water, and soak the paper strips in this solution. Drain the excess liquid, and allow the strips to dry. Finally, add fragrance to the paper by coating one side with a few drops of tincture or essential oil. Hang the strips to dry, and store them in airtight containers until needed.
Rope Incense
Although specific preparation instructions for rope incense are scarce, it is known that this form of incense involves the use of a natural combustible material called "makko," which is derived from the Tabu-no-ki tree in Asia. Makko powder is necessary when making cones or sticks of incense or for burning loose incense. It is likely that the preparation of rope incense involves mixing this powder with other ingredients to form a rope-like structure.
Cones and Sticks
When preparing incense cones or sticks, you will need bamboo charcoal or makko powder, tweezers or tongs, mica, distilled water or fragrant hydrosols, mixing bowls or food-grade plastic bags, measuring tools, and a drying cloth or wax paper. The process involves mixing the dry ingredients, adding liquid ingredients, and shaping the mixture into cones or sticks. The final products can then be burned to release fragrance.
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Frequently asked questions
Censing is the act of burning incense, usually during a religious ceremony.
Burning incense for a censing is done for a variety of reasons, including to perfume the air, as a symbol of prayer, to express honor or respect, and for purification.
Incense comes in many forms, including powder, paper, rope, sticks, and chips or blocks. It can be burned directly or indirectly, with the main difference being that direct-burning incense is lit directly by a flame, while indirect-burning incense requires a separate heat source.
The use of incense for a censing has a long history in many cultures and religions. It has been used in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, Japanese Shinto shrines, Christian churches, and Islamic traditions. Incense is also burned in many Arab countries as a gesture of hospitality.
