China has a history of smoking incense since ancient times. According to the "Shi Yi Ji", in the second year of King Zhao of Yan (585 BC), the state of Boyi presented the "fragrance of Quanwu" as a tribute. The fragrance of Quanwu "is a type of incense that, when burned in a specially designed incense burner, can produce a delightful aroma. This means that China had a tradition of burning incense as early as the Spring and Autumn period.
Subsequently, with the widespread use of incense burners, the custom of smoking incense became even more widespread. In the early Western Han Dynasty, officials who reported to the emperor also had to burn incense (incense and clothing) first, and when reporting, they also had to hold "chicken tongue fragrance" in their mouths. Before Emperor Wu of Han, incense had already become popular among the aristocratic class.
The prosperity of Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty was also an important driving force for the civilization of incense.
The Buddhist teachings and scriptures place great emphasis on incense, and it is almost necessary to use incense in all Buddhist activities. Not only do we need to offer incense when paying respects to the Buddha, but we also need to burn incense before the eminent monk takes the stage to speak; At the widely popular Bathing Buddha ceremony at that time, it was customary to bathe Buddha in fragrant soup; Perfume is often poured out in places such as Buddhist temples and dharma altars. Most Tang emperors believed in Buddhism, and the royal family had frequent Buddhist activities, so the amount of incense they used can be imagined.
When Buddhism was just emerging and Shakyamuni Buddha was still alive, he placed great emphasis on incense; For over two thousand years after this, the practice of using incense in Buddhism remained unchanged and was continuously strengthened and developed, to the point where incense is always present in the Brahma realm and in the homes of laypeople, incense altars and cauldrons are set up.
Buddhism believes that fragrance and satisfying intelligence are interconnected
Buddhism believes that fragrance has a special relationship with a person's intelligence and virtue. The wonderful fragrance is closely related to satisfactory intelligence, and the accomplished sage can even emit a special fragrance.
According to scripture records, when Buddha speaks, he emits a wonderful fragrance from his every hair and orifice, which can spread to ten directions and shake the three realms. Therefore, in Buddhist scriptures, incense is often used to metaphorically describe the moral character of the demonstrator.
Buddhism believes that incense can communicate with all saints and is the most extraordinary offering
When Buddha lived in the world, his disciples offered incense as a sacrifice.

Buddhism believes that "incense is the envoy of Buddha" and "incense is the envoy of faith", so burning incense and offering incense is simply a necessary part of all Buddhist activities. From daily chanting and meditation, to grand Buddhist bathing ceremonies, water and land ceremonies, Buddha statue consecration, ordination, release, and other Buddhist activities, incense is indispensable. In Buddhism, there are many kinds of perfumes used for offering. In addition to the "burning incense" used for smoking, perfume made of perfumes, perfumes painted on the body, and powdered incense are all commonly used offerings. Perfume is also used for bathing Buddha, which is a kind of high support. As listed in the "Lotus Sutra," there are "ten types of offerings for masters": flowers, incense, ornaments, incense, incense, burning incense, hanging banners, clothes, and dance music; Four of them are fragrances.

Buddhism uses incense to assist in cultivation
Buddhism believes that incense has a direct impact on people's physical and mental health.
Since ancient times, Buddhism has advocated the use of incense in meditation, chanting, and other spiritual practices. Incense is also smoked everywhere in temples to create a conducive environment for cultivation. And the categories of fragrances are also carefully selected, not only using high-quality single spice, but also blending and manufacturing more suitable for cultivation according to specific formulas. Even different cultivation methods require the use of different formulas of incense. Many successful cultivators are also skilled at blending incense.
Buddhism uses incense to seek medical treatment
Due to the fact that the vast majority of spices themselves are medicinal herbs, such as agarwood, sandalwood, cloves, wood incense, cinnamon, calamus, camphora (dragon's brain), musk, frankincense, benzoin, and rosin, Buddhist incense has also been used for medical treatment for a long time. Incense used for medical treatment, also known as "fragrant medicine", is an important component of "Buddhist medicine".
The formula and variety of Buddhist fragrant medicines are very rich, and their uses are extremely diverse. Not only does it use incense to remove dirt and prevent epidemics, but there are also specialized prescriptions for treating specific illnesses. There are many ways to use incense, some are directly smoked, some are taken orally, some are made into perfume and applied to the body, and some are used when soaking and bathing.
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