Chinese incense culture(香学) · Incense and Literati Life
Incense and Calligraphy & Painting
Unrolling a scroll by the inkstone, a burner of clear fragrance at one's side—incense is the silent reading companion in the study.
When literati read, write, or paint, they often accompany themselves with a burner of incense. Burning incense in the study has been an established practice since the Tang and Song dynasties.
Incense in the Study
- Companion in Reading: Unrolling scrolls through the long night, incense aids the mind without causing drowsiness.
- Companion in Writing: Writing by the inkstone, incense steadies the mind and hand, the ink and fragrance blending together.
- Elegant Offerings: Burner, vase, stone, and inkstone displayed together on the desk, with incense as their soul (New Year Elegant Offeringsthat is, its flourishing).
Incense of the Studio
Incense used in the study should be clear, not heavy, in accord withFour Essentials of Incense Appreciation's "purity and stillness." For related implements, seeIllustrated Catalogue of Incense Implements。