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History of Incense

Incense artifacts, thousands of years old, have be found in throughout the world, and appear to be a part of virtually every culture. The connection between incense, religions, medicine, it would be impossible to separate them, or say which proceeded the other. Historically it is difficult to trace because it has always been largely an esoteric and oral tradition evolving in relation to both religion and medicine. Incense has appeared in many forms: raw woods, chopped herbs, pastes, powders, and even liquids or oils. Incense offers various effects. It purifies air and sets their mind at ease.

Incense

The history of incense stretches farther back in time than any human civilization. Indeed, it can be said to be as old as fire itself. The burning of fragrant woods such as cedar, pine and cypress, and aromatic resins, roots, berries and other natural materials constitutes the true origin of incense. As these and other special substances were singled out and their unique properties distilled, the conscious practice of incense was born. The burning of incense is known to have occured throughout the ancient world: Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Arabia, Egypt, India, Greece, Rome… all consumed in great quantities.

References to incense are found in the ancient Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh and feature prominently in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In the book of Exodus, for example, God instructs Moses to build an altar of fragrant cassia wood on which to burn a sacred mixture of frankincense, sweet spices and other aromatic substances. And in the Gospel of Luke we read the story of "wise men from the East" who present gifts of gold and incense to the infant Jesus.

Indeed, the burning of incense features in the practice of most of the world's religions, past and present, and often proliferated as they did. At about this time incense began to take root in Japan, having arrived from China (along with Buddhism and tea) during the 6th century. Eventually, Japan would develop games, ceremonies and even schools dedicated to the appreciation of incense. During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) stick incense was developed in China and quickly mastered by the Japanese, who have come to be regarded as the greatest practitioners of the art in the world.

 

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