Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Incense in China is traditionally used in a wide range of Chinese cultural activities including religious ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional medicine, and in daily life. Known as xiang ( Chinese : 香 ; pinyin : xiāng ; Wade–Giles : hsiang ; lit. 'fragrance'), incense was used by the Chinese cultures starting from Neolithic times ...
This article embarks on an exploration of Chinese incense, tracing its origins, delving into its diverse types, and uncovering the meticulous craft of its creation. We journey through its cultural and spiritual significance, and revel in the aromatic benefits that have been cherished for millennia.
China has a long and rich incense culture, and is a major incense producer in the world today. Prior to the 6th century, four ingredients were popular: Lan & Hui flowers, Sichuan Peppers, and Cassia. After that, the main four ingredients became: Aloeswood, Sandalwood, Camphor and Musk.
Burning Incense in front of Gong Wu Shrine in China Town, Bangkok. Photo: © Valeska Gehrmann. Incense have always been important to the practice of many religions. Burning incense is considered to be the most popular way to get rid of negative energies in a house and bring forth new positive vibes.
The first recorded use of incense was in China, and for significant periods of Chinese history, incense was an integral part of a person’s spiritual and physical life. It was highly valued by the royal palace, and was drug, spice, perfume, and connector to otherworldly forces all in one.
Upon getting up in the morning, ancient Chinese burned incense to calm their minds for the start of a new day. “Incense is the beginning of everything,” said Chen Zhendong, founder of Meng Yun Incense Library and a member of the Shanghai Collection Association.
The burning of plant materials for ceremonial and worshipping purposes are known to exist from the Neolithic period in China. Archaeological sites such as Shanghai’s Songze Relic Site (淞泽) have uncovered evidence of burning in its ceremonial alters, dating back approximately 6000 years.
Incense in Chinese. The easiest and quickest way to understand just how pervasive incense was in historical China is refer to its Chinese character, or the Chinese word for incense. The character for incense or aromatics was recorded as far back as the Shang Dynasty (~1600 – 1050 BCE).
The art of Chinese incense culture can be traced back thousands of years to the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). Incense has been used to aromatize rooms and clothing, as an integral part of Buddhist worship and as a leisure pursuit for scholars and nobility.
Before the Tang Dynasty, the principal ingredients of Chinese incense were Lan flowers, Hui flowers, Cassia Cinnamon, and Sichuan Pepper. The Tang Dynasty saw the inclusion of Aloeswood, Camphor, Sandalwood, and Musk in its manufacture.