Long-Lasting Fragrance: A Overview History of Chinese Incense Culture

As one of the treasures of its civilization, Chinese incense culture has deep historical roots and rich cultural connotations. As early as the late Neolithic period, the Chinese began to utilize the aromatic substances of plants for religious ceremonies and daily life. In the gradual evolution of history, incense has not only become an important element in rituals and prayers, but has also permeated medicine, art and daily life, forming a unique incense culture.

The Origin and Early Development of Chinese Incense

The roots of Chinese incense culture can be traced back to the Neolithic period, with relics related to spices, such as fragrant wood and aromatic plants, having been found as early as the Yangshao culture, which dates back to around 3,000 BCE. These discoveries suggest that the early Chinese utilized aromatic substances in nature for religious ceremonies, rituals, and even the regulation of daily life. 

The development of incense started in the Shang (1600 – 1046 BCE) and Zhou periods (1046 - 256 BCE). However, systematic incense culture really developed during the Han Dynasty, mainly due to the following two things:

The introduction of Buddhism into China:

The Buddhist rituals used a lot of burning incense to pray for blessings and offerings to Buddha, driving the expansion of incense culture from rituals to religious ceremonies and personal cultivation.

Related to Buddhism, sandalwood, incense and other foreign spices through the Western region, India, the introduction of Chinese incense culture to form a huge impact.

Silk Road and the development of maritime trade:

From the Han Dynasty, with the opening of the Silk Road, India, Southeast Asia and other places of spices such as lobster, incense, frankincense, benzoin was introduced into China in large quantities, which greatly enriched the variety of spices.

Numerous documents record its use as a means of prayer, blessing, and to show respect. After Buddhism was introduced to China, incense was used more widely and became an integral part of temple rituals. According to Mahāyāna-śraddhotpāda-śāstra, burning incense is part of the spiritual practice and is beneficial to the purification of the mind.

Evolution & Influnce of Chinese Incense

Incense culture has a long history and profound connotation in Chinese civilization, and its development has been accompanied by the evolution of society, cultural exchanges and changes in people's lifestyles. From the ritual sacrifices in the pre-Qin period, to the prosperity of the Han and Tang dynasties, to the inheritance and commercialization of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties, incense is not only a material, but also a cultural embodiment.

Waken of Incense Culture: Qin Dynasty

The pre-Qin period was the origin of Chinese incense culture, and its use was mainly focused on religious rituals and medical purposes. The record of incense in the Rites of Zhou clarifies its importance in rituals and ceremonies, considering incense not only as a material but also as a spiritual support. During this period, the use of incense was mainly focused on religious activities as a medium of communication with the gods.

In addition, the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine and other ancient medical texts also mentioned the use of incense, such as musk, mugwort, etc. has the effect of driving away evil spirits and diseases. Incense in this period also has both disinfection, insect repellent, regulating the smell and other functions, widely used in the court and the aristocracy, reflecting its initial practicality and mystery.

With the introduction of incense wood and spices, the variety of incense is getting richer and richer. For example, incense and sandalwood from Lingnan were gradually used for burning and medicinal purposes, forming a preliminary spice system and laying the foundation for the development of incense culture for future generations.

Celadon incense burner from the Pre-Qin period

Prosperity of Chinese Incense Culture: Han - Tang Dynasty

Entering the Han and Tang dynasties, Chinese incense culture ushered in the first peak. Especially with the Western Han Zhang Qian mission to the Western Regions, the opening of the Silk Road so that a large number of exotic spices into the Central Plains, such as frankincense, myrrh, lobster brain, Suhui Xiang, etc., these spices not only enriched the incense category, but also to promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.

The court of the Han Dynasty attached particular importance to incense. Archaeological discoveries show that the smokers and spice relics unearthed in the Mawangdui Han tombs were indispensable to the daily life of the aristocrats at that time. Incense in the feast, bathing, clothing, living are used, showing that the incense culture has penetrated into all levels of life.

Painted pottery incense burner from Han dynasty

To the Tang Dynasty, the development of incense culture reached its peak. The New Book of the Tang and the Old Book of the Tang recorded the use of spices by the court and the literati many times, and Bai Juyi, a famous scholar of the Tang Dynasty, wrote in his poem: 

竹林幽静见疏疏，鸟唱轻吟引客途。
焚香晚坐看松影，不觉愁肠几缕无。

This poem describes the scene of visiting friends in the bamboo forest. The sentence "burning incense and sitting in the evening" implies the scene of burning incense and drinking tea in a leisurely atmosphere. During this period, burning incense has not only practical needs, but also become an important part of aesthetic life. Incense sachets and ornaments, incense pillows, incense burners and other items are endless, and even gave birth to the “incense ceremony” as an aesthetic activity, emphasizing the sense of ritual and spiritual experience of burning incense.

Heritage of Incense Culture: Song - Qing Dynasty

Song dynasty is the Chinese literati culture is extremely prosperous period, incense culture in this period shows more strong art and spirituality. Literati elegant gathering, burning incense and qin and chess calligraphy and painting alongside an important way of cultivation. Song dynasty famous literati Su Shi, Lu You and other frequent mention of incense in poetry, showing a unique taste for aroma mood.

At this time, “incense” further development, the formation of “tasting incense” “fight incense” and other forms, emphasizing the identification of aroma and spiritual cultivation. Song Dynasty also developed a “fragrance formula”, that is, in accordance with a fixed proportion of the preparation of spices, used in specific situations, such as meditation, writing, banquets, etc., showing the systematic and standardized incense culture.

Art painting from Song Dynasty

Ming and Qing dynasties, incense culture tends to daily and commercialization. On the one hand, incense continued its cultural function in the court and literati; on the other hand, with the development of commerce and the progress of handicrafts, spice production entered a mature stage, incense stores and incense workshops all over the city. Such as Tiangong Kaiwu recorded in the production of incense cake, incense pill technology. Incense varieties are more and more diverse, covering incense, sandalwood, incense, and so on, and equipped with exquisite packaging, becoming an important gift, collection of items.

Incense culture in this period is also integrated into folk festivals and religious life, such as the Lantern Festival, Ching Ming, Tanabata and other festivals often burn incense to pray for blessings, so that incense has become part of people's lives. The Qing dynasty court is a special “incense library”, in charge of the spices of the procurement and distribution, reflecting the institutionalization of incense culture and the scale of the characteristics.

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Chinese incense culture has experienced an evolution from practical to aesthetic, from court to folk, from religion to art. It is not only the enjoyment of material level, but also carries people's cognition and pursuit of nature, life and spiritual world. Incense, as a part of Chinese culture, has been glowing with enduring charm in the long course of history.