Incense and Literati Life · Volume Navigation
Qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, tea, and incense—incense permeates every corner of the literati's life.
Volume Contents
- Burning Incense and Playing Qin
- Incense and Tea
- Incense and Calligraphy & Painting
- Incense and Gardens
This volume discusses the role of incense in the daily life of literati, in harmony withThe Way of Incense Appreciation、Various Schools on Incenseand in resonance.
Incense and Literati Life · Volume Navigation
The following Q&A is compiled from content on this site for quick reference; descriptions of the medicinal properties of incense materials are traditional understandings and do not constitute medical advice.
What is the relationship between literati life and incense?
The ancients regarded "burning incense, playing the qin, tasting tea, and hanging paintings" as elegant pursuits; incense was an important part of literati daily cultivation and social life, and Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, and others left numerous records of incense burning.
What are the particular points about burning incense while reading?
Traditionally, reading calls for light incense and little smoke, so as not to overwhelm the flavor of the classics; incense should be clear and elegantly subtle—one censer, one stick—with emphasis on calming the mind rather than intensity.