Lance Carson
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. Its use dates back to biblical times and is believed to have originated in ancient Egypt, where it was used for fumigating ceremonies and tombs. Incense was also used in India and other parts of southern Asia as early as 3300 BC and spread to ancient China around 2000 BC. The Babylonians used incense while offering prayers to divine oracles, and it later spread to Greece and Rome. Incense holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites, as well as in Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto shrines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First recorded use of incense | 3600 BC by Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation |
| First use in the non-Asian world | Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty, 2345-2494 BC |
| Earliest documented evidence of use | Ancient China, made from blends of herbs and plants such as cinnamon and sandalwood |
| Introduction to China | Around 2000 BC |
| Introduction to Japan | 754 AD by Ganjin, a Buddhist priest from Tang China |
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What You'll Learn
Incense was used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
The history of incense can be traced back to ancient civilisations in Mesopotamia and Egypt, with evidence of its use in India and other parts of South Asia as early as 3300 BC. Incense was prominent in religious rituals in ancient Egypt, where it was used to fumigate ceremonies, tombs, and temples. Egyptian priests used incense to counteract disagreeable odours, drive away demons, and as offerings to their gods. Incense was also employed in mortuary rites, where it was believed to aid the souls of the dead in ascending to heaven.
Incense trees were imported from the Arabian and Somali coasts into ancient Egypt, and the use of incense quickly spread to other regions. The Babylonians, for example, used incense extensively while offering prayers to divine oracles. From there, the use of incense spread to Greece and Rome, where fragrant woods were burned as incense during sacrifices and in the cult of the emperor.
In China, incense was introduced by Ganjin, a Buddhist priest from Tang Dynasty China, who brought with him the practice of burning incense for medical purposes and as a fragrance. Incense became an integral part of Buddhism and was used in daily rites, festivals, and processions to honour ancestors and household gods. The use of incense in China also led to the development of incense clocks, which were used for timekeeping in Buddhist monasteries and secular society.
Incense has played a significant role in various religious traditions, including Christianity, where it has been used in worship and ceremonial practices since antiquity. In the Bible, incense is mentioned more than twenty times and was one of the gifts offered to baby Jesus by the Magi, along with gold and myrrh. In the Islamic tradition, incense is mentioned in the Koran and is associated with the purification of the Ka'aba in Makkah.
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It spread to China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries
The use of incense spread to China, Korea, Japan, and other Asian countries, becoming an integral part of their cultures and societies.
China
Incense spread to China around 200 CE when a group of wandering Buddhist monks introduced incense stick-making to the country. The use of incense in China became closely associated with Buddhism, with the introduction of calibrated incense sticks and incense clocks. The poet Yu Jianwu (487–551 CE) recorded the use of incense timekeeping devices in his work:
> "By burning incense we know the o'clock of the night, With graduated candles we confirm the tally of the watches."
These incense timekeeping devices spread from Buddhist monasteries into Chinese secular society. Incense-stick burning became an everyday practice in traditional Chinese religion, with various types of sticks used for different purposes and festive days. During the Song dynasty, the nobility enjoyed incense as a popular cultural pastime, even building rooms specifically for incense ceremonies.
Korea
In Korea, incense was used in religious ceremonies, presumably dating back to ancient times. During the Three Kingdoms (57 BCE–668 CE), traditional Korean aroma culture developed with the introduction of Buddhism. The Silla people carried aromatic plant bags in their pockets, and incense burners were depicted on tomb murals of the Goguryeo era. The custom of incense burning continued through the Goryeo Kingdom (918–1392 CE) and was practised by the royal family, aristocratic women, and ordinary people. However, aroma culture decreased under the influence of Confucianism in the Joseon Kingdom (1392–1910 CE).
Japan
The burning of incense in Japan began during the 6th century (the Asuka period) with the introduction of Buddhism, which uses incense in its rituals and ceremonies. Agarwood, imported from China via Korea, became an important facet of Japanese culture. The start of the Edo period in the 19th century brought major changes to the production of incense, with Senkō incense sticks becoming widely available to the general public. Today, incense manufacturing is largely based on Awaji Island, south of Osaka, due to its strong seasonal winds that are ideal for drying incense.
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Incense is mentioned in the Bible and the Koran
Incense has a long and storied history, with its use stretching back to ancient civilizations. Its origins can be traced to various parts of the world, including ancient Egypt, China, and the lands mentioned in the Bible. Speaking of the Bible, incense plays a significant role in both the Bible and the Koran, the holy books of two of the world's major religions: Christianity and Islam.
In the Bible, incense is often associated with prayer and worship. It is mentioned numerous times throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, incense was used in the Temple rituals, with specific instructions given for its preparation and use. For example, in Exodus 30:34-36, God commands Moses:
> "And the Lord said unto Moses: 'Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight, and thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy. And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with thee. It shall be unto you most holy.'"
Here, the burning of incense is directly connected to communicating with God and is considered a sacred act.
Incense is also mentioned in the New Testament, particularly in relation to the birth of Jesus. In Matthew 2:11, the three wise men are described as presenting gifts of "gold, frankincense, and myrrh" to the newborn Christ child, highlighting the value and significance of incense in religious ceremonies.
Turning to the Koran, the use of incense is also mentioned, though less frequently than in the Bible. In Islamic tradition, incense is often associated with the Prophet Muhammad and is used to create a pleasant and pure atmosphere. One example can be found in the Hadith, a collection of traditions and sayings attributed to Muhammad:
> "A'isha reported: I asked: 'What did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) begin with when he entered his house?' She said: 'He began with the tooth-stick, and when he entered upon any of his wives he began with the tooth-stick.' I said: 'And what else?' She said: 'A vessel of water was brought to him, and he would perform ablution, and then take the water left over with his right hand and sprinkle his legs. Then a vessel of perfume would be brought to him, and he would run his hands through it, and then rub them on his legs and his head.'" (Sunan Abi Dawud 124)
Here, the use of incense, or "perfume," is presented as a way to purify oneself before prayer, a practice that is still observed by many Muslims today.
The mention of incense in these sacred texts highlights its importance in religious rituals and its role in creating a sacred space. The act of burning incense is seen as a way to honor God and elevate the spiritual atmosphere, a practice that continues in various forms in both Christian and Islamic traditions today.
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It was used in ancient Indian civilisations
The use of incense in ancient India dates back thousands of years and has deep roots in the spiritual and ritualistic traditions of the subcontinent. Incense was an integral part of ancient Indian civilisations, where it was used for a variety of purposes, from religious ceremonies to medicine and perfumery.
One of the earliest references to incense in India can be found in the ancient Vedic texts, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism, composed between 1500 and 500 BCE. These texts mention the burning of aromatic substances as offerings to deities during religious ceremonies. The fragrant smoke was believed to carry prayers and praises to the divine realms. The oldest textual source on incense is the Vedas, specifically the Atharvaveda and the Rigveda, which encouraged a uniform method of making incense. The Mahabharata also classifies incense into three types, with ingredients including resins, heartwoods, flowers, herbs, and artificially produced substances.
The practice of burning incense was also used in ancient India for its medicinal properties, believed to be the first phase of Ayurveda, a traditional system of medicine. Incense was seen as a healing tool, used to promote well-being and create a pleasant aroma. This practice was assimilated into the religious and cultural practices of the time, becoming an integral part of Hinduism and Buddhism.
In addition to its religious and medicinal uses, incense played a significant role in perfumery and cosmetics in ancient India. The ancient Bṛhat Saṃhitā, a text dedicated to "Perfume Blending", provides several perfume formulas, including one known as "Ocean of Perfumes", which offers numerous combinations of ingredients to create unique fragrances. The basic ingredients of an incense stick, such as bamboo sticks, paste, and perfume ingredients, were combined to create a variety of aromatic blends.
The use of incense in ancient India also extended to practical purposes, such as masking odours and creating a pleasant fragrance in living spaces. The modern system of organised incense-making is believed to have been created by the medicinal priests of the time, linking it intrinsically to the Ayurvedic medical system.
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Incense is used in Taoist and Buddhist temples
The use of incense dates back to ancient times, with the Babylonians and Indians of the Indus Valley Civilization using it in prayer and worship. Incense spread to ancient Egypt and China, where it was employed for worship, prayer, and ritual purposes.
Incense holds a significant role in Taoist and Buddhist temples. In these temples, the interiors are perfumed with thick coiled incense, which may be hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn bundles of incense sticks, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques honouring deities or ancestors.
The placement of individual incense sticks into censers in front of these statues or plaques is also practised. In Buddhist temples, the incense sticks are typically placed vertically, either singly or in groups of three, depending on the status of the deity and the sentiments of the individual. In Taoist temples, the sticks are placed horizontally due to the absence of a supporting core, which would otherwise burn.
The types of incense used in Taoist and Buddhist temples vary, with Tibetan temple incense known for its use of medicinal herbs and spices, while Japanese incense tends to produce a more subtle fragrance with less smoke. Agarwood, sandalwood, and camphor are traditional ingredients in Buddhist incense, and sandalwood is the most commonly used type of incense in Buddhist temples.
In both Taoist and Buddhist cultures, incense is burned to mark various occasions, including funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, paying respects to ancestors, and warding off bad luck. Incense is also believed to purify spaces used for meditation, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
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Frequently asked questions
The use of incense dates back more than 6,000 years, to the first great civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilization in 3600 BC. However, it is believed that incense may have been used in India and other parts of South Asia as early as 3300 BC.
Incense originated in ancient Egypt, where aromatic trees were imported from Arabia to be used in religious ceremonies and rituals. Incense was also prominent in ancient China, where it was made from blends of herbs and plants such as cinnamon and sandalwood.
The use of incense spread from Egypt to Greece and Rome, and eventually to other parts of Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Incense was also introduced to Israel before the Babylonian Exile (586-538 BC) and was assigned miraculous powers.
