Lance Carson
Burning incense has been a household staple in communities across the globe for thousands of years, with its preparation varying from one country to another. Incense is made from plant materials and essential oils and is used for ambiance, therapy, and meditation, among other uses. The word incense comes from the Latin incendere, meaning to burn. The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was used in religious rituals and ceremonies. Incense was also used in ancient Greece and Rome, and its use spread to China and Japan, where it became an integral part of Buddhist worship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Etymology | The word "incense" comes from the Latin "incendere", meaning "to burn". |
| Ancient Egypt | Incense was used in ancient Egypt for fumigating ceremonies and tombs. It was also used to hinder the presence of demons and as an offering to the gods. |
| Ancient China | Incense was burned during festivals and processions to honour ancestors and household gods. |
| Ancient Greece | Woods and resins were burned as an offering and for protection against demons. |
| Ancient Rome | Fragrant woods were replaced by imported incense, which became important in sacrifices and in the cult of the emperor. |
| Early Christianity | Incense was used in eucharistic ceremonials, symbolizing the ascent of prayers and the merits of the saints. |
| Medieval Europe | Incense use was more restrained in the West than in the East. |
| Post-Reformation England | Incense was employed sporadically in the Church of England until its use was widely restored in the 19th century by the Oxford Movement. |
| Heian Period Japan | Court nobles concocted original "takimono" fragrances for personal use, establishing a unique incense culture rooted in seasonal awareness. |
| Tang Dynasty China | Incense culture flourished due to strong trade, the spread of Buddhism, and frequent exchange with foreign countries. |
| Song Dynasty China | Incense use in China peaked, with nobility constructing rooms dedicated to incense ceremonies. Agarwood, a key incense ingredient, was valued equally to gold. |
| Ming and Qing Dynasties China | Incense remained popular for social events and everyday leisure activities. |
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What You'll Learn
Ancient Egypt
The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was used in religious ceremonies and for fumigating tombs. The ancient Egyptians burned incense as a daily celebration of fragrance, with each scent carrying an independent meaning, ceremony, and purpose. The burning of incense was also central to the worship of the gods of Ancient Egypt, with incense offered to statues and pharaohs.
One of the most popular varieties of incense was Kyphi (also known as Kapet), which was in use since the Old Kingdom. It was thought to heal snake bites, cure bad breath, and asthma. Its recipe included saffron, wine, honey, honeycomb, ginger, juniper berries, vetiver, sandalwood, aloeswood, and exotic woods. Other popular incense types included frankincense and myrrh, which were also used in the morning and at midday, respectively, according to Plutarch. Certain gods were associated with specific types of incense, such as Hathor with myrrh.
The ancient Egyptians also used incense ingredients such as aromatic woods, spices, resins, and oils imported from other lands. These ingredients were ground and burned on hot coals or mixed with dried fruit to form small pellets for burning. Incense was also used for fumigation, which was typically done using burning coal.
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China
The use of incense in China dates back thousands of years, with the first recorded use of incense in human history being in ancient China. The character for incense or aromatics was recorded as far back as the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1050 BCE), and the earliest vessels identified as censers date to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period.
Incense was an integral part of a person's spiritual and physical life in China, and it was highly valued by the royal palace. It was used in a wide range of cultural activities, including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and daily life. The burning of incense was also believed to have physiological and psychological benefits. The Chinese word "xiang" (香) means "fragrance", "scent", "aroma", "perfume", and "spice", reflecting the pervasive role of incense in historical Chinese society.
The introduction of Buddhism to China from India during the Han period (206 BC–220 AD) further influenced the use of incense. Indian Buddhists brought incense trees, particularly sandalwood, to China in 200 CE, and the Buddhist scriptures value the use of incense in ceremonies. The practice of using incense spread from China to Japan through Buddhism. Calibrated incense sticks and incense clocks were also introduced to China through Buddhism, and the use of these timekeeping devices spread from Buddhist monasteries into secular society.
The production of incense sticks in China typically involves the use of bamboo, with the most common type being Phyllostachys heterocycla cv. pubescens due to its thick wood and ability to burn easily to ashes. The process of making incense sticks has largely been replaced by machines in modern times.
The art of incense burning reached its height during the Song dynasty (960–1279 AD), when the nobility enjoyed it as a popular cultural pastime, constructing rooms dedicated to incense ceremonies. The Ming dynasty (1368–1644 AD) saw the continued use of incense for social events and everyday leisure, with the development of metalworking technologies leading to the popularity of bronze incense holders. However, with the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912, China experienced years of war and turmoil, causing the practice of incense to come to an abrupt halt. It is only in recent years that incense has started to slowly make a comeback in modern Chinese life.
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Japan
The burning of incense in Japan began in the 6th century CE, during the Asuka period, with the introduction of Buddhism and its associated rituals and ceremonies. According to legend, a log of agarwood washed up on the shores of Awaji Island in 595 CE and was presented to Prince Shōtoku and Empress Suiko, who were already familiar with incense through Buddhism. Agarwood, along with other fragrant woods like sandalwood, was burned with blends of herbs to create a desired atmosphere in Buddhist temples. This practice became known as sonaekō, and the burning of incense became an important facet of Japanese culture.
Incense was initially imported into Japan from China via Korea, and it soon became an integral part of Buddhist rituals and ceremonies. The custom of burning incense was further developed and embraced by the Japanese court nobility, who used it to perfume their elaborate clothing and hair. By the end of the Nara period (710-794 CE), incense had become popular among the Japanese aristocracy, and it was used for both purification and as a symbol of high culture.
During the Kamakura Shogunate in the 12th century CE, a new approach to Buddhism, known as "New Buddhism", was introduced, and this further popularized the use of incense in Japan. The religion spread across the country, and the use of incense in Buddhist temples became deeply intertwined with spiritual practices, enriching prayer ceremonies, meditations, and religious festivities.
The Muromachi period (1336-1573) saw the development of "the way of incense" or Kōdō, a formal conduct for appreciating incense in Japanese society. Kōdō is considered one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement and includes all aspects of the incense process, from the tools used to activities such as incense-comparing games. During this time, the collecting of famous named incense wood pieces flourished, and the burning of expensive, rare incense woods increased their value, making them a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.
The Edo period (1615-1868) witnessed the spread of incense culture to the commoners of the upper and middle classes, and incense became a staple of society, appearing in art, poetry, and fashion. "Incense games", where participants guessed fragrances, became popular, and incense imagery was widely used on decorative crests and kimonos. However, with the Meiji Reforms (1867-1868) and the Westernization of Japan, the practice of incense declined in popularity.
Today, traditional Japanese incense is used worldwide and is possibly more popular than ever. It comes in a myriad of fragrances, each crafted to evoke a unique sensory experience, with both traditional and contemporary scents available. The production process involves skilled artisans who blend natural ingredients like aromatic woods, resins, spices, and essential oils to create the desired aroma.
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Greece
The use of incense in Greece has a long history, dating back to ancient times. In the Greek world, incense was imported from Southern Arabia during the Orientalizing Period (seventh century BCE). The ancient Greeks would burn incense as an offering to the Gods within formal rituals. This practice was known as "thymia" or "thymiama" in Greek.
The ancient Greeks believed that burning incense released a fragrant smoke that ascended to heaven, serving as a means of communication with the Gods. Incense was also used in fumigations for cult worship and could be an isolated form of worship or part of various rituals. The use of incense in ancient Greece was associated with the religion of the time, known as Ællinismόs or Hellenismos.
In the Ællinismόs tradition, incense was used purely as an offering to the Gods, representing love, generosity, gratitude, and worship. The sweet smell of the incense, or "evodia," was considered pleasing to the Gods. References to incense can be found throughout ancient Greek literature, including the Orphic Hymns, which suggest specific types of incense for different deities.
Even today, the use of incense in Greece continues to hold cultural and religious significance. In the Eastern Orthodox Christian monastic tradition on Mount Athos, incense is made by powdering frankincense or fir resin and mixing it with essential oils. This mixture is then shaped, dried, and burned, often on a hot metal plate in a censer or thurible.
In addition to its religious significance, incense has also been used in Greece for aromatherapy, insect repellent, and even as an aphrodisiac. Greeks have also burned incense made from natural materials such as local minerals, herbs, wood from certain trees, resins, and plant parts.
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Rome
The use of incense in ancient Rome was influenced by the Etruscans, who had a profound impact on Roman religion and culture. The Etruscans are known to have used incense since at least as early as the 6th century BCE. The Greeks and Romans imported frankincense from Southern Arabia, where it was cultivated and highly valued as a religious offering. Frankincense was the most common type of incense used in the ancient Mediterranean, and it was so prized in Rome that fraudulent merchants would try to pass off inferior products as the real thing.
In Roman polytheism, the use of incense in ritual offerings was deeply entrenched. It was burned at altars during ceremonies and sacrifices, and it was believed that the smoke ascending to heaven was a means of communication with the gods and a sign of their presence. The Romans also used incense in the cult of the emperor, and it became an important part of public and private sacrifices.
The two most popular forms of incense in the Roman world were frankincense and myrrh, which were extracted from the resin of trees in the genus Boswellia. These substances were valued not only for their fragrant smoke but also for their medicinal properties. Scientific studies suggest that inhaling frankincense can have a calming and cheering effect, while myrrh has antioxidant and mild pain-killing properties.
The Romans had various types of incense burners, such as bowls with frilled decorations and censers. The Latin word "turibulum" or "censer" was used to denote these receptacles, which were commonly found among grave goods, indicating their importance in Roman funeral rituals.
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Frequently asked questions
The word 'incense' comes from the Latin word 'incendere', which means 'to burn'.
The use of incense can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where it was used in religious rituals and ceremonies. Incense was also used in ancient China, Greece, and Rome.
Incense was used by Egyptian priests for fumigating ceremonies and tombs. It was believed to hinder the presence of demons and was offered to the gods during worship. Egyptian graves have been found to contain traces of fragrant resins such as frankincense and myrrh.
The use of incense spread through trade and cultural exchange. For example, incense was introduced to Japan by Ganjin, a Buddhist priest from Tang China, in 754 AD. Incense also spread to Israel before the Babylonian Exile (586–538 BC) and was later incorporated into Hindu and Buddhist rituals.
