Annotated Translation of Xiang Cheng · Original Text and Vernacular Annotation of the Twenty-Eight Volumes
The twenty-eight volumes of Xiang Cheng—every volume has its incense. This series records the original text volume by volume (compiled and edited), with vernacular translations and annotations attached, divided into four sections: "Incense Products, Incense Matters, Incense Writings, Incense Formulas," serving as a ladder for reading through the entire work.
The twenty-eight volumes of Xiang Cheng were compiled by the Ming-dynasty scholar Zhou Jiazhou from ancient and modern incense products, incense matters, incense writings, and incense formulas. This annotated translation compiles representative original texts from each volume, with vernacular translations and annotations attached—beginners can enter through this, then return toXiang Cheng Volume by Volumeto survey the entire work and the background of each volume.
About the volume order:This annotated translation is organized and compiled by theme (Incense Products · Incense Matters · Incense Writings · Incense Formulas) for beginners to read step by step; it does not follow the original book's volume order. For the table of contents and full text of the original twenty-eight volumes of Xiang Cheng, seethe full text of Xiang Cheng (twenty-eight volumes) in the Siku Quanshu edition on Wikisource; for scanned facsimiles, seescanned facsimiles of Xiang Cheng on Wikimedia Commons (PDFs such as the National Library of China copy)。
Table of Contents of the Annotated Translation of All Volumes
Incense Products Volume (Volumes 01–11)
- Agarwood in the Xiangcheng: How Zhou Jiazhou Recorded the Chief of All Incenses
- Close Reading of Famous Incense Appreciation Sayings in Classical Texts
- How to Read the Incense Formulas in the Xiangcheng: Volume Structure and Search Methods
- A Survey of "Ambergris" Records in Ancient Texts
- "Qinan(kyara)" in Ancient Texts: From the Xiangcheng to Dynastic Gazetteers
- Our Translation and Annotation Principles: Variant Readings, Collation Notes, and Honest Labeling
- Volume 01 Incense Products I · Agarwood of Various Countries— Agarwood Grades and the Principle of Resin Formation
- Volume 02 Incense Products II · Sandalwood and Frankincense— Sandalwood and Frankincense: The Framework of Blended Incense
- Volume 03 Incense Products III · Sandalwood, Musk, and Borneol— The Three Notes of Sandalwood, Musk, and Borneol
- Volume 04 Incense Products IV · Borneol and Musk— The Key to Elevating Borneol and Musk
- Volume 05 Incense Products V · Lingling and Maoxiang— Huicao Removes Impurity, Maoxiang Is Warm and Gentle
- Volume 06 Incense Products VI · Huoxiang and Gansong— An Example of Incense and Medicine Sharing the Same Source
- Volume 07 Incense Products VII · Clove and Muxiang— Warm-Natured Incense Medicines
- Volume 08 Miscellaneous Records of Incense Affairs— Incense-Burning Ritual System and the Origins of Incense Affairs
- Volume 09 Incense Products IX · Ambergris— The Supreme among Incenses
- Volume 10: Incense Grades X · Jiaxiang and Baijiao— Shell incense and pine resin
- Volume 11: Rare Incenses— Extraordinary fragrances seldom seen
Incense Affairs Volumes (Volumes 12–16)
- Volume 12: Incense Affairs I · Xun Ling's Lingering Fragrance— The allusion of Xun Yu's love of incense
- Volume 13: Incense Affairs II · Han Shou Steals Incense— The allusion of secretly gifting rare incense
- Volume 14: Incense Affairs III · Shi Chong's Toilet Incense— Jin people valued incense even in the toilet
- Volume 15: Incense Affairs IV · Burning Incense to Read the Yi— Scholars burning incense while reading
- Volume 16: Incense Affairs V · Spring Message in the Snow— A blended incense favored by Su Shi
Incense Literature Volumes (Volumes 17–19)
- Volume 17: Incense Literature (Fu and Song)— Incense fu expressing aspirations through objects
- Volume 18: Incense Literature II · Incense Fu— The pleasure of burning incense in quiet seclusion
- Volume 19: Incense Literature III · On Incense— The uses of incense are most widespread
Incense Formula Volumes (Volumes 20–28)
- Volume 20: Incense Poetry— Incense imagery in Tang poetry
- Volume 21: Incense Formulas I · Sihe Incense— The Concept of Sovereign, Minister, and Envoy in Compounding
- Volume 22: Incense Formulas II · Xiaolan Incense— Pure Fragrance Like Orchid
- Volume 23: Incense Formulas III · Xuanhe Imperial Incense— Song Dynasty Court Incense Blending
- Volume 24: Incense Formulas IV · Wang Family Gold Incense— Song Palace Boudoir Incense Blending
- Volume 25: Incense Formulas V · Ditang Incense— The Method of Condensing Floral Fragrance
- Volume 26: Condensed Floral Fragrance · Lord Li's Bedchamber Incense— Incorporating Flowers into Incense
- Volume 27: Incense Formulas VII · Wensi Incense— The Clear and Far-Reaching Incense Made by Su and Huang
- Volume 28: Incense Formulas VIII · Postscript— Zhou Jiazhou's Author's Preface
The twenty-eight volumes are divided into four sections—"Incense Products, Incense Matters, Incense Writings, Incense Formulas"; after reading, you may return toXiangcheng Volume by Volumeto survey the entire work.