Seamus Hammond
Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism. Incense is burned during rituals and ceremonies, and is also used for meditation. The incense-burning ritual is thought to symbolise the necessity of burning away negative qualities within oneself to reveal the pure self within. The use of incense in Buddhism is thought to date back to the beginning of human history, and it is frequently mentioned in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date to the life of the Buddha. The most common type of incense used in Buddhist temples is stick incense, although loose incense is also used. Agarwood, sandalwood, herbs, flowers and other natural sources are commonly used to create the fragrant smoke.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Stick, cone, loose, coil |
| Incense ingredients | Agarwood, sandalwood, herbs, flowers, natural sources |
| Incense bowl filled with | Incense ash, fine clean sand, uncooked rice |
| Incense purpose | Sacred offering, honouring the Triple Gem of the Buddha, purifying the space |
| Incense companies | Kungyokudo, Baieido, Shoyeido, Nippon Kodo, Kyukyodo |
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What You'll Learn
- Incense is used as a sacred offering to honour the Buddha
- Burning incense symbolises the necessity of burning away negative qualities to reveal one's pure self
- Incense is used to purify the space and inspire the development of a pure mind
- Incense is used as a meditation timer
- Agarwood and sandalwood are common ingredients in Japanese incense
Incense is used as a sacred offering to honour the Buddha
The burning of incense symbolises the necessity of burning away negative qualities to reveal one's pure self, as the fragrant smoke rises and dissolves into the air. The aroma of incense, often derived from herbs, flowers and natural sources, is believed to purify the atmosphere and inspire the development of a pure mind. The fragrance is also thought to spread far and wide, akin to the benefits of performing a good deed.
In Buddhist temples, stick incense is most commonly used, although loose incense is also burned by dropping grains onto hot charcoal. There are two types of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense, and incense with a bamboo core. Coreless incense is considered more appropriate for Buddhism as it burns away completely, although both types are used. In some Asian temples, large coils of incense are suspended from the ceilings.
The incense bowls used in Zen temples are filled with old incense ash, although fine sand or uncooked rice can also be used. The unlit end of the incense stick is planted into the bowl. Incense sticks are also used as a meditation timer, with manufacturers providing estimated burn times.
Traditional ingredients used in Buddhist incense include sandalwood, aloeswood, camphor, and various medicinal herbs and spices. Agarwood, also known as kōboku, is another important ingredient in Japanese incense, along with sandalwood.
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Burning incense symbolises the necessity of burning away negative qualities to reveal one's pure self
Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism. The use of incense in Buddhism is believed to symbolise the necessity of burning away negative qualities to reveal one's pure self. The incense stick burns away to produce fragrant smoke, which purifies the atmosphere, much like how one must burn away their negative qualities to reveal their pure self.
The use of incense in Buddhism is believed to date back to the beginning of human history. It is mentioned frequently in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date to the life of the Buddha. Incense, along with flowers, food, drink, and garments, was offered as a sign of respect to a revered person.
Today, the offering of incense at an altar is a universal Buddhist ritual. Buddhists may not always agree on the reason for this practice, but it is believed that incense purifies the space, whether that is a meditation room or a bedroom. The aroma of incense, typically derived from herbs, flowers, and other natural sources, inspires the development of a pure mind.
The burning of incense is also used as a meditation timer. The incense burns away completely, subtly reminding the viewer of the transient nature of existence. In some Asian temples, huge coils of burning incense are suspended from the ceilings. However, stick incense is much more commonly used, particularly the coreless or "solid" variety, as it burns away completely. In some temples, loose incense is burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal.
The fragrant woods agarwood and sandalwood are the main ingredients used in Japanese incense. Agarwood is sourced from certain parts of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, while sandalwood originates primarily from India, Indonesia, southern China, and other parts of Southeast Asia.
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Incense is used to purify the space and inspire the development of a pure mind
Incense is an integral part of Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism, with mentions of incense in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date back to the life of Buddha. Buddhists offer incense at altars to honour the Triple Gem of the Buddha, his Dharma, and the Sangha. The fragrant smoke teaches Buddhists to burn away their negative qualities to reveal their pure selves.
Incense is believed to purify the space, be it a meditation room or a bedroom, and inspire the development of a pure mind. The aroma of incense, typically derived from herbs, flowers, and other natural sources, is thought to spread far and wide, akin to the benefits of performing a good deed. The incense smoke rising and dissolving into the air also symbolises the transient nature of existence.
In Buddhist temples, incense sticks are commonly used, with the unlit end planted into a ceramic or metal bowl filled with incense ash, uncooked rice, or sand. Some temples also use loose incense, burning grains of incense on hot charcoal in a brazier or box. Huge coils of burning incense are also sometimes suspended from the ceilings of Asian temples.
The type of incense used varies, with Japanese incense typically made from fragrant woods like agarwood and sandalwood, and Tibetan incense featuring lots of medicinal herbs and spices. Coreless or "solid" incense is considered more appropriate for Buddhism as it burns completely away, but incense with a bamboo core is also commonly used.
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Incense is used as a meditation timer
Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism. It is mentioned in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date to the life of the Buddha, and has been used in Japan since the introduction of Buddhism in the 6th century. Incense is burned during rituals and ceremonies, and it is believed that the aroma purifies the atmosphere and inspires the development of a pure mind.
In Buddhist temples, stick incense is most commonly used, although loose incense is also burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal. There are two types of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense, and incense with a bamboo core. The coreless variety is considered more appropriate for Buddhism because it burns away completely. However, both types are commonly used. Huge coils of burning incense are sometimes suspended from the ceilings of Asian temples.
Incense sticks are also used as a meditation timer. The length of the stick provides an indication of how long the meditation session will be, with some manufacturers providing an estimated burn time on the box. The unlit end of the stick is planted into an incense bowl, typically filled with old incense ash, or clean sand or uncooked rice.
In addition to its practical use as a timer, incense holds symbolic significance in Buddhism. It is offered at altars as a sacred offering, honouring the Triple Gem of the Buddha, his Dharma, and the Sangha. The act of burning incense teaches the necessity of burning away negative qualities to reveal one's pure self, mirroring the transient nature of existence as the fragrance rises and dissolves into the air.
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Agarwood and sandalwood are common ingredients in Japanese incense
Incense is an integral part of Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. Agarwood and sandalwood are two fragrant woods that are commonly used in Japanese incense. Agarwood, also known as Jinko in Japanese, is a tree in the Thymelaeaceae family that secretes a resin when cut or felled. This resin solidifies over time and emits a scent when warmed, making it ideal for use in incense. Japanese incense companies categorise agarwood based on its region of origin and its unique properties. Agarwood is sourced from various parts of Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and India. The most prized grade of agarwood resin is called kyara, which is known for its high oil content and superior fragrance.
Sandalwood, on the other hand, originates primarily from India, Indonesia, southern China, and other Southeast Asian regions. Sandalwood trees require around 60 years to develop their distinctive fragrance, which is widely used in kōdō, the traditional Japanese Way of Incense.
The use of agarwood and sandalwood in Japanese incense dates back centuries and is deeply rooted in the country's culture. Established companies like Nippon Kodo, Shoyeido, and Baieido are renowned suppliers of Japanese incense, with a rich history and expertise in crafting incense using these fragrant woods.
Agarwood and sandalwood are often combined in Japanese incense blends, such as the SHIBUI incense sticks, to create a harmonious and elegant aroma. These incense sticks are handcrafted by koh-shi, or "fragrance masters," using traditional techniques and the highest quality natural ingredients. The result is a beguiling scent that invites relaxation and serenity, making it perfect for meditation and other contemplative rituals.
Japanese incense is known for its subtle fragrance and low smoke, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a more delicate aromatic experience. The absence of a bamboo core in Japanese incense contributes to its reduced smoke emission, ensuring a clean and healthy environment for enjoyment.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning incense is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism. It is used to honour the Triple Gem of the Buddha, his Dharma, and the Sangha. The fragrant smoke teaches Buddhists about the necessity of burning away negative qualities within oneself to reveal their pure self.
The type of incense used varies. In general, you will find stick incense more commonly used in a Buddhist temple. There is also loose incense, which is burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal. The two types of stick incense are coreless or "solid" incense and incense with a bamboo core. The coreless incense is considered more appropriate for Buddhism as it burns away completely.
Incense is typically derived from herbs, flowers, and other natural sources. The fragrant woods agarwood and sandalwood are the main ingredients used in Japanese incense.
Some of the most established suppliers of incense include Nippon Kodo, Shoyeido, and Baieido. Kungyokudo, founded in 1594, is the longest-standing incense maker and originally served the Nishi Honganji Buddhist Temple in Kyoto.
If you are sensitive to incense, dried flower petals can be offered instead. The petals are placed in a bowl in front of the Buddha and can be used as compost once the bowl is full.
