The traditional culture of Chinese incense ceremony is deeply influenced by Taoism and Buddhism, and although they have commonalities in the use and philosophy of incense ceremony, each has unique characteristics and ways of practice. The following is a detailed description of these two schools of incense:
Taoist incense
Taoist incense focuses on the use of incense combined with Taoist practice and ritual. It emphasizes the burning of incense to purify the environment, enhance one’s aura, and enhance the effect of practice. The goal of Taoist incense is to help practitioners achieve unity with the Tao.
- Types of incense
- Sandalwood: Widely used, it has a stabilizing effect and helps to calm the mind.
- Agarwood: Precious and fragrant, with soothing physical and mental, spiritual and other effects.
Ambergris: Rare and unique, it is often used in high rituals to enhance mystery and purify effect.
- Instruments of Taoist incense
- Incense burner: Taoist incense burner is exquisite in design, generally made of copper or ceramic, with complex carvings, symbolizing the mystery and gravitas of Taoism.
- Perfume box: Used to store spices, beautifully designed, often made of wood, lacquer or metal, decorative.
- Incense needle: An instrument used to light spices, usually slender and delicate.
- The etiquette of Taoist incense
- Light incense: Use incense needles or matches to light spices, usually by hand.
- Purification: After the incense is lit, the environment is purified by the dispersion of the cigarette and the evil gas is removed.
- Incense burning time: Select a specific auspicious time to burn incense in order to achieve the best purification effect.
- The philosophy of Taoist incense
- Unity with the Tao: Taoist incense emphasizes the use of incense to help practitioners purify their hearts and approach the Tao.
- Harmony of the five elements: The spices in the incense path are often combined with the five elements, and the balance of the five elements is regulated by the smell of the incense.
- Aura Enhancement: Incense helps practitioners enhance their personal aura and spirituality by elevating the aura of the environment.
Buddhist incense
Buddhist incense focuses on the use of incense combined with Buddhist practice and ritual. Incense is used in Buddhism to worship Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and to help practitioners purify their minds and improve their practice. Buddhist incense values the cleansing effects of incense and aims to create an environment suitable for practice and meditation.
- Types of incense
Sandalwood: Most commonly used in Buddhism, it has a gentle aroma and helps practitioners relax.
- Agarwood: It has a deep aroma and is often used in important Buddhist rituals to help improve concentration in practice.
- Frankincense: With a fresh aroma, it is often used in daily offerings to help purify the environment.
- Instruments of Buddhist incense
- Buddha Incense burner: Usually a beautifully designed Buddhist utensil, which may be made of copper, ceramic or wood, often with Buddhist symbols.
- Cone: Used to store spices, helping to keep them dry and fresh.
- Stick: A tool for lighting incense, designed to control the flame.
- Rituals of Buddhist incense
- Offering incense: In Buddhist temples, devotees light incense to offer to the Buddha as an expression of respect and prayer.
- Purification environment: Use incense to purify the practice environment and make it suitable for meditation and practice.
- Incense burning time: Incense burning time is often combined with Buddhist practice time to maintain the consistency and ritual sense of practice.
- The philosophy of Buddhist incense
- Clear the mind: Buddhist incense helps the practitioner clear the mind and focus on the practice through the use of incense.
- Offering and respect: The offering of incense symbolizes respect and prayer for the Buddha and enhances the connection with the Buddha.
- Environmental purification: The dispersal of cigarettes helps to purify the negative energy in the environment and create a pure space for practice.