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Incense in Japan

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Tokushima Clan, which opened the door to the import and sale of raw materials used in making incense. Over time, the incense made in Awaji Island became renowned throughout Japan. The main reason incense manufacturing took root in Awaji Island is because of its nishi-kaze (west wind). This strong seasonal wind hampers the fishing industry, giving rise to the necessity for cottage industries such as incense making. This wind is also great for drying incense.
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time turns into kōboku. One particular grade of kōboku with a high oil content and superior fragrance is called kyara. Kyara is currently worth more than its weight in gold. Sandalwood originates primarily from India, Indonesia, southern China or other parts of southeast Asia. Sandalwood trees need around 60 years to produce their signature fragrance that can be deemed acceptable to be used for kōdo. The most valued sandalwood comes from
424: 164: 90: 486:(1436–1490) himself appreciated precious scented woods and collected some or inherited them from Sasaki. In order to properly organise the large collection of incense wood, he appointed the experts of that time Sanjonishi Sanetaka, who became the founder of the Oie School, and Shino Soshin, the founder of the Shino School. They established a classifying system called 316:
in the 19th century saw major changes in the history and production of incense. Senkō incense sticks became more widely available to the general public as production method shifted to an industrial scale. At the start of the 20th century, mainichi-kō, or "everyday incense" was developed by the master
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as they pass it around the group. Participants comment on and make observations about the incense, and play games to guess the incense material. Genjikō is one such game, in which participants are to determine which of five prepared censers contain different scents, and which contain the same scent.
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are the main ingredients used in Japanese incense. Agarwood is produced in certain parts of southeast Asia such as Vietnam. Japanese incense companies divide agarwood into six categories depending on the region obtained and properties of the agarwood. The trees secrete an aromatic resin, which over
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Currently, 70% of all of Japan's incense is manufactured on a small island south of Osaka called Awaji Island. The history extends back to 1850 in Ei of the city of Awaji in 1850 when Senshuu Sakai manufacturing technology was introduced. At the time, Ei was a military run trade port for the
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was established by incorporation in New York City in August 1965 and is the largest seller of Japanese incense worldwide. Most of their incense is "everyday" quality (毎日 mainichi). They do make some "traditional" incense as well. These three are the major exporters of Japanese incense.
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treasury in Nara, which is under the administration of the Imperial Household. The high costs and difficulty in obtaining acceptable raw material is one of the reasons why kōdō is not as widely practised or known compared to the art of flower arrangement or the tea ceremony.
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costs over 40,000 yen per gram, or many times the equivalent weight of gold (as of late 2012). If the particular piece of incense wood has a history, the price can be even higher. The highest regarded wood, ranjyatai, dates back to at least the 10th century and is
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Kyūkyodō, Kunmeidō, and Kōkandō also sell some incense overseas. It may be difficult to find the other brands outside Japan. There are numerous other incense makers in Japan, of course. These are the either the major sellers or the oldest companies in Japan.
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Even today, there is a strong relationship and holistic approach in kōdō between fragrant scent, the senses, the human spirit, and nature. The spirituality and refined concentration that is central to kōdō places it on the same level as kadō and chadō.
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fragrant wood combined with herbs and other aromatic substances was burned to provide a fragrant incense for religious purposes. The custom of burning incense was further developed and blossomed amongst the court nobility with the pastime of
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There are two major types of incense in Japan, which are either heating or smouldering small pieces of fragrant wood, or direct-burning incense in form of sticks or cones formed out of paste without a bamboo stick.
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in India, where it is endangered. Makkō (which translates as "incense powder") is used to bind the ingredients together. It is able to bind ingredients while having little scent of its own.
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Raw materials such as agarwood are becoming increasingly rare due to the depletion of the wild resource. This has made prime material very expensive. For example, the cost of lower grade
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wood from Laos or Vietnam, and was used by emperors and warlords for its fragrance. It is said to contain so much resin that it can be used many times over. The wood is kept at the
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composed of nine strokes, 香, which can also be expanded up to 27 strokes 馫. A literal translation is "fragrance", though in context it is understood as "incense". The word 道
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in the 16th century, this aesthetic awareness would develop into the accomplishment known as kōdō, which is the art of enjoying the incense of smouldering
750:), which, much like tools of the tea ceremony, are valued as high art, to activities such the incense-comparing games kumikō and genjikō. 54: 995: 269:. The eighth Kōju Takae Jyuemon was known as a particular master of incense of note. During this time the “Ten Virtues of Kō” (香の十徳, 876: 849: 822: 76: 771:
Apart from kōdō, incense can also be used during the tea ceremony or other functions. A variety of containers and censers, or
273:) were formulated, which is a traditional listing of the benefits derived from the proper and correct use of quality incense: 1195: 254: 240:. The present style of kōdō has largely retained the structure and manner of the Muromachi period, in which time the 47: 41: 775:, made out of porcelain, wood, lacquer or other materials were created over the centuries for this purpose, such as 471:(1306–1373), who was regarded as a paragon of elegance and luxury and the quintessential military aristocrat during 1214: 151:
may be added, which means "way", both literally (street) and metaphorically (a stream of life experience), to give
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Buddhist Temple in Kyoto. Other traditional and still operating companies include Kyukyodo (1663, Kyoto), and
221:, robes and even fans were perfumed and poems written about them, it also featured prominently in the epic 393: 217:, a powdered mixture of aromatic substances. Fragrant scents played a vital role at court life during the 121:. Incense is used for a variety of purposes, including Buddhist ceremonies, spirituality and meditation. 258: 241: 180:, a book of classical Japanese history, gives the first formal record of incense in Japan when a log of 472: 637:
which means "southern barbarian", and was brought to Japan by Portuguese traders with unknown origin.
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Both Baieido and Shoyeido are used extensively by Zen Buddhist temples, both in Japan and worldwide.
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Samurai warriors would prepare for battle by purifying their minds and bodies with the incense of
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Exhibition of Kôgô: Japanese Ceramic Incense Boxes from the George Clemenceau Collection
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For kumikō, participants sit near one another and take turns smelling incense from a
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Many of the current incense companies have been in existence for more than 300 years.
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Fragrant scent played an important role at court during the Heian period (image from
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in the late 16th century, the master craftsmen Kōju was employed at the
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fragrances and other animal-derived aromatic materials are also used.
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The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents
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The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents
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Players' determinations (and the actual answers) are recorded using
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was imported into Japan from China via Korea. From that point on,
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era (1594), and originally operating as an apothecary serving the
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linear patterns, the elements of which allude to chapters in the
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The Trail of Time: Time Measurement with Incense in East Asia
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One of the oldest traditional incense companies in Japan is
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and practiced incense ceremony. The third Kōju served under
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are some of the most established suppliers for incense.
301:久蔵不朽 : Does not break down after a very long time 109:, which uses incense during rituals and ceremonies. 783:, all of which can be supremely valuable items. 665:is also a major supplier of incense material. 434:wood dating to the 10th century CE, kept at the 295:多而不厭 : Is not unpleasant, even in abundance 734: 705: 298:募而知足 : Even in small amounts is sufficient 250:style of flower arrangement developed as well. 743: 714: 490:, which means "six countries, five scents". 8: 280:清浄心身 : Purifies the body and the spirit 844:. Cambridge University Press. p. 159. 695:A set of utensils used for incense ceremony 475:, owned many incense woods and named them. 317:craftsman Kitō Yujiro during the Meiji and 446:is about 20,000 yen per gram. Top quality 871:. Kodansha International. p. 32-33. 77:Learn how and when to remove this message 729:of appreciating incense, similar to the 492: 88: 40:This article includes a list of general 1110:Jessica Sayuri Boissy (31 March 2016). 803: 304:常用無障 : A common use is not harmful 200:. Shōtoku knew of incense burning from 1177:. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1992. 963: 953: 817:. Kodansha International. p. 31. 93:Stacks of incense at a temple in Japan 1061:. naturalscents.net. 3 November 2021. 140:) in Japan is written in the Chinese 7: 292:塵裏愉閑 : Calms in turbulent times 1150:. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. 117:would become an important facet of 1023:. Vienna Imports. 2 February 2018. 101:began during the 6th century (the 46:it lacks sufficient corresponding 25: 984:. Naturalscents. 8 November 2021. 283:能払汚穢 : Eliminates pollutants 838:Silvio A. Bedini (24 Mar 1994). 192:in 595 CE, and was presented to 31: 277:感格鬼神 : Sharpens the senses 286:能覚睡眠 : Awakens the spirit 1: 998:. Komori-Corp. Archived from 865:Kiyoko Morita (30 Oct 2006). 811:Kiyoko Morita (30 Oct 2006). 661:, founded in 1705 in Kyoto. 289:静中成友 : Heals loneliness 893:"Buddhist Incense-Sonae-ko" 735: 706: 171:by Tosa Mitsuoki, 1617–91.) 105:) with the introduction of 1236: 1112:"Kodo: the Way of Incense" 1021:"Incense Around The World" 698: 1170:). Kyoto: Tankosha, 1998. 935:Bincsik, Author: Monika. 744: 715: 507: 501: 498: 495: 364:Other materials used are 152: 1146:Asahi Shinbusha (1978). 982:"The Ten Virtues of Koh" 324:Today companies such as 61:more precise citations. 696: 439: 225:in the 11th century. 172: 94: 694: 426: 259:Kyoto Imperial Palace 166: 92: 633:comes from the word 607:sumotara / sumontara 208:became established. 1193:How to make incense 1175:The Book of Incense 1099:. gov-online.go.jp. 344:The fragrant woods 265:, the fourth under 1198:2009-03-04 at the 1168:The Way of Incense 1130:Japan Encyclopedia 1039:Making-Incense.com 966:has generic name ( 911:"In Ghostly Japan" 899:. 2 November 2021. 697: 484:Ashikaga Yoshimasa 473:Nanboku-chō period 440: 370:chebulic myrobalan 263:Toyotomi Hideyoshi 173: 136:The word incense ( 95: 1215:Incense by region 1166:(Introduction to 897:naturalscents.net 627: 626: 312:The start of the 223:The Tale of Genji 169:The Tale of Genji 87: 86: 79: 16:(Redirected from 1227: 1220:Culture of Japan 1173:Morita, Kiyoko. 1152: 1151: 1143: 1137: 1126: 1120: 1119: 1107: 1101: 1100: 1097:"Scent of Awaji" 1093: 1087: 1086: 1084: 1083: 1069: 1063: 1062: 1055: 1049: 1048: 1046: 1045: 1031: 1025: 1024: 1017: 1011: 1010: 1008: 1007: 996:"Virtues of Koh" 992: 986: 985: 978: 972: 971: 965: 961: 959: 951: 949: 947: 932: 926: 925: 923: 921: 915:sacred-texts.com 907: 901: 900: 889: 883: 882: 862: 856: 855: 835: 829: 828: 808: 793:Incense in China 749: 747: 746: 740: 724: 718: 717: 711: 493: 464:Types of incense 438:treasury in Nara 357:in the state of 234:Muromachi period 119:Japanese culture 99:incense in Japan 82: 75: 71: 68: 62: 57:this article by 48:inline citations 35: 34: 27: 21: 18:Japanese incense 1235: 1234: 1230: 1229: 1228: 1226: 1225: 1224: 1205: 1204: 1200:Wayback Machine 1184: 1160: 1158:Further reading 1155: 1145: 1144: 1140: 1127: 1123: 1109: 1108: 1104: 1095: 1094: 1090: 1081: 1079: 1071: 1070: 1066: 1057: 1056: 1052: 1043: 1041: 1033: 1032: 1028: 1019: 1018: 1014: 1005: 1003: 994: 993: 989: 980: 979: 975: 962: 952: 945: 943: 934: 933: 929: 919: 917: 909: 908: 904: 891: 890: 886: 879: 864: 863: 859: 852: 837: 836: 832: 825: 810: 809: 805: 801: 789: 741: 712: 703: 689: 643: 466: 430:, a historical 342: 267:Tokugawa Ieyasu 161: 134: 97:The burning of 83: 72: 66: 63: 53:Please help to 52: 36: 32: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1233: 1231: 1223: 1222: 1217: 1207: 1206: 1203: 1202: 1190: 1183: 1182:External links 1180: 1179: 1178: 1171: 1159: 1156: 1154: 1153: 1138: 1121: 1102: 1088: 1064: 1050: 1026: 1012: 987: 973: 927: 902: 884: 877: 857: 850: 830: 823: 802: 800: 797: 796: 795: 788: 785: 721:Way of Incense 699:Main article: 688: 683: 655:Nishi Honganji 642: 641:Incense makers 639: 625: 624: 621: 612: 609: 603: 602: 599: 596: 593: 587: 586: 583: 580: 577: 571: 570: 567: 558: 555: 549: 548: 545: 540: 537: 531: 530: 527: 522: 519: 513: 512: 506: 500: 497: 465: 462: 341: 338: 306: 305: 302: 299: 296: 293: 290: 287: 284: 281: 278: 194:Prince Shōtoku 160: 157: 133: 130: 85: 84: 39: 37: 30: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1232: 1221: 1218: 1216: 1213: 1212: 1210: 1201: 1197: 1194: 1191: 1189: 1188:naturalscents 1186: 1185: 1181: 1176: 1172: 1169: 1165: 1162: 1161: 1157: 1149: 1142: 1139: 1136: 1133:, p. 237, at 1132: 1131: 1125: 1122: 1117: 1116:gaijinpot.com 1113: 1106: 1103: 1098: 1092: 1089: 1078: 1074: 1068: 1065: 1060: 1054: 1051: 1040: 1036: 1030: 1027: 1022: 1016: 1013: 1002:on 2016-03-04 1001: 997: 991: 988: 983: 977: 974: 969: 957: 942: 941:metmuseum.org 938: 931: 928: 916: 912: 906: 903: 898: 894: 888: 885: 880: 878:9784770030504 874: 870: 869: 861: 858: 853: 851:9780521374828 847: 843: 842: 834: 831: 826: 824:9784770030504 820: 816: 815: 807: 804: 798: 794: 791: 790: 786: 784: 782: 778: 774: 769: 767: 766: 765:Tale of Genji 761: 756: 751: 739: 738: 732: 728: 722: 710: 709: 702: 693: 687: 684: 682: 678: 674: 671: 666: 664: 660: 656: 652: 648: 640: 638: 636: 632: 622: 620: 616: 613: 610: 608: 605: 604: 600: 597: 594: 592: 589: 588: 584: 581: 578: 576: 573: 572: 568: 566: 562: 559: 556: 554: 551: 550: 546: 544: 541: 538: 536: 533: 532: 528: 526: 523: 520: 518: 515: 514: 510: 504: 494: 491: 489: 485: 482: 481: 476: 474: 470: 463: 461: 458: 454: 449: 445: 437: 433: 429: 425: 421: 419: 415: 411: 407: 403: 399: 395: 391: 387: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 366:cinnamon bark 362: 360: 356: 351: 347: 339: 337: 335: 331: 327: 322: 320: 315: 310: 303: 300: 297: 294: 291: 288: 285: 282: 279: 276: 275: 274: 272: 268: 264: 260: 256: 251: 249: 248: 243: 239: 235: 231: 226: 224: 220: 216: 211: 207: 203: 199: 198:Empress Suiko 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 178: 170: 165: 158: 156: 154: 150: 146: 143: 139: 131: 129: 126: 122: 120: 116: 112: 108: 104: 100: 91: 81: 78: 70: 60: 56: 50: 49: 43: 38: 29: 28: 19: 1174: 1167: 1163: 1147: 1141: 1135:Google Books 1128: 1124: 1115: 1105: 1091: 1080:. 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Index

Japanese incense
references
inline citations
improve
introducing
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Asuka period
Buddhism
Agarwood
incense
Japanese culture
Kangxi
radical 186
kōdō

The Tale of Genji
Nihon Shoki
agarwood
Awaji Island
Asuka period
Prince Shōtoku
Empress Suiko
Buddhism
Heian period
The Tale of Genji
Muromachi period
tea ceremony
ikebana
Tenshō era

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