Fragrant civilization is reflected in various aspects of ancient people's lives. Different fragrant products have different uses, and when viewed from a larger perspective, they have uses such as worshiping Buddha and offering sacrifices; If it is small, it can be used for fumigation, medicinal purposes, or household use, depending on the situation and the individual.
Xiangxin Factory introduces the uses of fragrance:
Sacrificial Incense
In China, the history of incense being used for worship can be traced back to the Stone Age. At that time, our ancestors had great reverence for the existence of nature, and the power of nature could not be shaken. They relied on the existing rules and rewards of nature to make a living. In order to pray for good weather, hunger, food, and clothing every year, our ancestors used the method of burning firewood to offer sacrifices to the heavens, thus opening up the ancient tradition of using incense for worship. At first, due to the use of burning spices to remove mosquitoes, refresh the mind, and even bring joy to the body and mind, incense was considered a sacred object overnight, with the aura of immortals and the ability to communicate with gods. Therefore, people used it for sacrificial purposes, hoping to convey their wishes to the gods through the spiritual energy of incense. According to archaeological discoveries, the burning of firewood and sacrificial offerings had already occurred in sacrificial activities 6000 years ago. Large scale fire sacrificial altars have been discovered in the late Hongshan civilization site dating back 6000 to 5000 years ago. In the Book of Rites, it is recorded: "To worship the Haotian with bamboo sticks, to worship the sun, moon, and stars with solid firewood, to worship the officials in charge of fire with bamboo sticks, and to worship the wind and rain masters. During the Zhou Dynasty, King Wen of Zhou established a ritual system for worshiping the heavens, and since then, the ritual of burning incense to worship the Six Harmonies, gods, ancestors, and saints has been used to this day.
Buddha Offering Incense
Burning incense and worshiping Buddha is a common practice in Buddhist rituals, where the spiritual energy of incense is infused with the divine spirit. Although the incense of worshiping Buddha can be classified as a branch of sacrificial incense, there is actually a common and profound meaning behind it.
Burning incense has profound significance and close ritual in Buddhism, and is even an important part of Buddhist affairs. In Buddhism, there is a saying about the "Five Fragrances" in Esoteric Buddhism, which means "one sandalwood, two agarwood, three lilacs, four tulips, and five dragon brain fragrances". Buddhism uses powdered and sliced spices for smoking, sprinkling, and burning in meditation or chanting ceremonies, or for boiling incense soup and bathing Buddha, or carving them into Buddhist beads to wear on the body. When reciting sutras, plucking Buddhist beads can release fragrance from spices that are heated by body temperature to nourish the body and calm the mind.
Smoked incense
The so-called fumigation and burning of incense, as the name suggests, refers to the use of burning spices or wearing sachets to achieve a rich and fragrant scent on the body and clothing. The early record of incense burning in official history can be found in the "Biography of Wang Dun" in the Book of Jin: "Shi Chong was known for his luxurious and luxurious goods. There were often more than ten maidservants in the toilet, all of whom had their own appearance and colors. They would prepare armor, fried powder, and Shen Xiang juice, and those who used the toilet would easily wear new clothes. Many guests were shy to take off their clothes, so Dun Tuo became new and had no intention or color." During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the top grade incense burning was recognized as Jia Nan, followed by Chen Xiang, and then sandalwood.

There are various types and forms of incense burning, such as the flame retardant incense burning method, which involves covering a layer of incense burner with a smoking cage, placing clothes, bedding, etc. on top of it to allow the burning aroma to permeate and penetrate. After three to five days, the clothes and bedding can be attached to the body to produce a fragrance that lasts for a long time. Like wearing a sachet. Xiangnang, also known as sachet, flower sachet, purse, or sachet, is mostly made of textiles, but there are also sachets made of materials such as metal, bamboo, wood, and stone. Dried flowers, herbs, or fragrant powder are usually placed inside the bag, which has a strong aroma and can move the lungs. It can have the effect of calming the mind, expelling insects, and preventing diseases. In ancient times, people of all ages and genders often wore it. Another example is bath scented soup. The "Hui" in Qu Yuan's "Nine Chapters on the Wind of Sorrow" refers to a type of fragrant herb called Lingling Xiang, Xun Cao, and Luo Lu, which is the main plant in the "Chu Ci" (Songs of Chu). This herb, when worn on the body, can remove odors and emit fragrance. In ancient times, this plant was commonly used for incense in the "purification" ceremony, hence it is also known as "smoked herb". Hui can also be mixed with other herbs to make solid fragrant pills, known as soup pills, which are used for boiling water, bathing, and cleansing the body. According to the records in the "Ben Cao Yan Yi", in ancient times, women often used the Nine Layer Pagoda (also known as the Smoked Grass) to soak oil and moisten their hair, saying, "There is no fragrance to add

Medicinal fragrance
Spices are not only used for worship or incense burning, but also important medical herbs. For example, agarwood has been regarded as a valuable medicinal herb due to its ability to promote qi circulation and relieve pain, warm the middle and lower reflux, smooth the meridians, and absorb qi to alleviate asthma. There are many medicinal methods for agarwood, which can be smoked, powdered for oral or external use, or made into agarwood tablets for brewing and drinking. As mentioned earlier, besides being used for aromatherapy, the stems, leaves, aged branches, and roots of Hui can also be used as medicine. The stems and leaves are a good obstetric medicine. The Compendium of Materia Medica contains the effect of the seeds of the Nine layered Pagoda, which can cure eye shadows. Like dragon brain fragrance, its medicinal value is rich: applying the fragrance powder to the eyes can treat eye diseases; Roll the dragon brain fragrance into paper and make it into cigarettes. Burning it to smoke the nose can treat headaches; Countless spices and herbs can be used as medicine, which were well utilized by ancient people. Igniting various fragrances indoors can purify the air, remove dampness, detoxify, purify impurities, dispel irregular qi in the four seasons, as well as yin, fog, miasma, and damp earth qi. It can also treat acne, rash, and itching around the body. Medicinal fragrance civilization is an important component of traditional Chinese fragrance civilization, and many famous ancient texts have recorded the uses of various fragrant medicines.
Home Fragrance
Since the integration of fragrant civilization into people's lives, the palaces, literati, and wealthy people of the Ming and Qing dynasties all admired various furniture and stationery made of fragrant wood. These types of objects are mostly made of agarwood and sandalwood. Due to the high value of the incense, this type of home fragrance has not been widely used in the folk market, but only owned by high-ranking officials and nobles. Sandalwood material is tough and fine, with a glossy color and long-lasting fragrance. It is commonly used in the manufacture of furniture, musical instruments, and carved crafts. Many ancient temples or furniture were made of sandalwood because, in addition to its fragrant aroma, it also had the effect of preventing ants. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, sandalwood and agarwood were extensively used to manufacture stationery such as tables, painting tables, pen holders, ink boxes, incense fans, and qin seats. These utensils and supplies are exquisitely carved and detailed, with intricate patterns, while emitting a subtle fragrance for a long time, filling the room with a pleasant aroma. In addition to wealthy families, many literati and literati also love these fragrant utensils that symbolize moral nobility.
Although the incense is small, it has great potential. Fragrant civilization is not just a simple civilization, it involves various aspects that can be described separately, with endless words and meanings. It is so profound and extensive.
Article source: Xiangxin Factory http://www.qianzhuhang.com