General History of Incense Culture(香学) · Volume Navigation
A history of Chinese incense, half a history of Chinese lifestyle aesthetics—from the smoke of altars to the censers of studies, incense matters have flowed with the times.
Volume Contents
- Pre-Qin and Two Han · Fragrant Herbs and Altars
- Wei, Jin, Sui, and Tang · Eastward Spread of Buddhism and Incense Use in Prosperous Times
- Song and Yuan · Four Arts of Literati and Rise of Incense Manuals
- Ming and Qing · Comprehensive Collection of Incense and Leisure Appreciation
- Modern and Contemporary · Decline and Revival
This Volume andSpice Wars and the Maritime Silk Road(Foreign Spices),Pioneers of incense culture(香学)(figures),Xiang Cheng, volume by volume(literature) serve as mutual warp and weft, forming the vertical axis of incense culture(香学) history.
General History of Incense Culture(香学) · Volume Navigation
The following Q&A is compiled from content on this site for quick reference; material and medicinal properties are described as traditional understandings and do not constitute medical advice.
When did incense use originate in China?
The origins of incense use can be traced to burnt offerings and the wearing of fragrant herbs in the pre-Qin period; it gradually flourished in the Han dynasty with the introduction of incense burners and aromatic materials, was further advanced in the Wei and Jin by the spread of Buddhism and Daoism, and reached its peak in the Song dynasty.
Why was the Song dynasty the peak of incense culture(香学)?
In the Song dynasty, literati widely engaged in burning and appreciating incense; incense societies, formulas, and implements all flourished, with marketplace and court sharing the same passion, blended incense techniques reaching their zenith, and a large body of incense manual literature left behind.
What are the characteristics of Ming and Qing incense culture(香学)?
The Ming dynasty was a grand synthesis (represented by Xiang Cheng), while Qing incense practices became more everyday and refined; at the same time, the spice trade and craft of implements continued to develop, laying the foundation for modern incense culture.