20 years ago, I had the chance to research on some medicinal plants when I was an undergraduate in the Department of Plant Science and my supervisor at that time was an expert on Qinghao (Artemisia annua). As we know, Qinghao is a kind of Chinese herbs and the atermisinin is one of the most effective medicine for treating malaria. When I searched for more information about Qinghao, I found that it was also used as a spice to be burned together with Chinese mugwort (Ai cao, Artemisia argyi) during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Since that time, I started my journey of incense and began to study the use of incense in different cultures and religions. Gradually, I realized that in our modern lives, we have lost the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors about incense and I started making incense by myself in traditional ways.
Our incense is mainly divided into two categories, the processed agarwood and the traditionally blended incense. For the first one, I need to point out that it is different from other agarwood incense on the market, in our philosophy, all spices are herbs including aloeswood and all herbs contain certain toxicity. The ancient doctors developed a series of technologies related with fire to process and try to remove their toxicity. These kinds of processing methods are called Paozhi (炮制) and the main purpose is for enhancing the effectiveness and reducing the toxicity of herbs.
We all know that agarwood trees mainly grow in tropical regions, which means the it contains too much fire element and it's harmful to our body. Since Tang Dynasty or earlier, our ancestors developed the method to process it and made it more suitable for us. Of course, the raw materials are all the top grade and selected from various areas. It is our most popular incense, and I believe that you will definitely love it when you try.
The usage of blended incense can be traced back to Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.), and it is more complicated for this category, as each blended incense has its own recipe and function. In ancient times the incense was the favorite of the royal family for the following two functions: one was to bring them elegant and unprecedented experiences. Another was to promote the circulation of Qi and blood in their body to maintain health. These are the secrets or ancient wisdoms of our ancestors to utilize incense for thousands of years. I try to summarize and list my incense as following:
Holy Lotus
Ingredient: Juniper, Mysore sandalwood, Osmanthus, Borneol, etc.
Glad to share with you one of my best incense. The recipe was created by a monk from Hua Zang Temple (华藏寺) in Ming Dynasty. According to this recipe, all spices were processed in traditional ways and blended in special order. It perfectly mimics the holy fragrance of real lotus, when you burn it, you could feel many golden lotuses blossom on the ground one by one, amazing experience.
Blue Lotus
Ingredient: Juniper, Mysore sandalwood, chrysanthemum, Borneol, etc.
The recipe was created together with “Holy Lotus” from Hua Zang Temple (华藏寺) in Ming Dynasty. According to this recipe, all spices were processed in traditional ways and blended in special order. This incense perfectly mimics the fragrance of the real Blue Lotus, it’s so unique that you will never forget it since the first time you smell it.
White Cloud
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, Turmeric, Borneol, etc.
Another wonderful incense from Hua Zang Temple (华藏寺). According to this recipe, all spices were processed in traditional ways and blended in special order. If you like my "Holy Lotus", you should also like this "White Cloud", it's the aloeswood version but much more elegant. It makes you feel as if you are sleeping on the clouds, so ethereal and peaceful.
Bright mirror
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, chrysanthemum, Borneol, etc.
Glad to share with you one of my favorite incense. The recipe was created by a monk from Hua Zang Temple （华藏寺）in Ming Dynasty. According to this recipe, all spices were processed in traditional ways and blended in special order. If you like my “Blue Lotus“, you should also like this “Bright Mirror”, it's the aloeswood version but much more elegant. This incense will help us in the meditation everyday to clean our mind and body.
“Bright mirror” is from a well-known Zen story. When the Fifth Ancestor - Hungren saw his death approaching he told his monks to compose a verse showing an intuitive understanding of his own inner nature. He who could do this would be given the "transmission" and receive the robe and bowl of office as Sixth Ancestor.
The favorite for the title was Shenxiu, who wrote:
Our body is the Bodhi-tree
And our mind a bright mirror.
Carefully we clean them hour by hour
And let no dust alight.
When Huineng saw the verse on the wall, asked someone to it read out to him, and dictated his own poem to be written alongside it:
There is no Bodhi-tree
Nor stand of a bright mirror .
Since all is void
Where can the dust alight?
Because of this poem, Huineng become the Sixth Ancestor of Zen.
Samadhi
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, Reiryokoh, Borneol, etc.
This recipe was from an ancient temple. The most interesting thing is that when you smell it, you could feel the Qi flowing along the Du Mai (Governing Vessel). According to ancient Taoist theories, it is very important to break three barriers (Wei lü, Jia Ji, Yu Zhen) and finally open the Governing Vessel during meditation. This incense can help us to open the Du Mai and greatly increase the Aura or Qi of our body and help us to enter deep meditation.
The data from Aura machine clearly shows that, after ten minutes of smelling Samadhi. The Aura from seven parts of our bodies increased 2-5 times. Other data also proved it is also very useful to prevent drowsiness, listless in meditation and our daily lives.
Zen Happiness (Aged Chenpi)
Ingredient: Aged Chenpi (30 years), Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, clove, etc.
This recipe was also from an ancient temple. All spices were processed in traditional ways and blended in special order.
The most important ingredient for this incense is Chenpi (Dried Tangerine Peel), as there is an old saying: One aged Chenpi worth one gold (百年陳皮勝黃金)". As known to all, Chenpi is widely used in food and Chinese medicine, but very few people know it is also an important spice for incense especially in Ming Dynasty. Recently, several research works have indicated the Tangeretin from it can effectively inhibit the replication and entry of viruses. It’s very useful in our daily lives.
Pureland (Ambergris)
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, Turmeric, Ambergris, etc.
AMBERGRIS is the most mysterious spice in the world, which is produced by the Sperm Whale. When it is excreted and then floats on the sea for a long time, the color begins to change slowly. It turns from black to white and occasionally to the golden one. The fragrance also becomes mellow and soft.
Since the Tang Dynasty, the ambergris has been regarded as the most precious treasure, and only the emperor can use it. What is the Ambergris used for? It was recorded “(龙涎香)能发众香，故多用之，以和香焉”– The Ambergris can stimulate and improve the properties of other spices, so it is often
used to make the blended incense. It is pointed out, the real function of Ambergris is to optimize and improve the fragrance and properties of other spices, just like the Harry Potter's magic wand.
Modern science also proves that when it is burned together with other spices, the fragrance will be changed completely. I also discovered this secret long time ago, when I was making incense. It could greatly make other spices softer and more dulcet.
Since then, I have started to research on how to use it to create the most wonderful fragrance based on the recipe from ancient temples. Finally, I have made this “Pureland” which contains the highest quality Ambergris. When you burn and smell it, there will be a pureland floating on the sea in your mind.
Chu Hui (Cinnabar)
Ingredient: Processed cinnabar, Juniper, Mysore sandalwood, Borneol, etc.
In history, incense is widely used to get rid of evil or negative energy. This incense is one of the best examples, which was developed by master Da De from a temple in Tang Dynasty.
Cinnabar is recognized as one of the most powerful and positive compounds to remove the negative forces and spirits for thousand years, especially in Taoism and Feng Shui. It was also a common ingredient of medicines being used to treat infected sores, scabies, ringworm and as a sedative for mania and insomnia since Warring States Period (475 B.C.). And in scientific research, six similar compounds have been proven to inactivate the Influenza Virus effectively.
Smiling Orchid (Musk)
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Mysore sandalwood, Clove, Musk, etc.
Smiling Orchid (笑兰香) is one of the most important incense for royal family. After it was passed to Japan, only the Emperor of Japan was eligible to use it. Till now, there are more than 10 different recipes can be found for this incense. The most interesting thing is that it contains musk. We all know that musk has a very strong animal flavor, but after processing and blending, it can even simulate the fragrance of orchids.
Musk (麝香) is not only a spice, but also a very important traditional Chinese medicine. Its main functions are to promote Qi and blood circulation. For this Smiling Orchid which contains musk, it specially promote the circulation in the Gallbaldder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang (足少阳胆经) which is one of the Principal Meridians. The red line shows the path of this Meridian which starts from the side of our head and flows around ears and end at the foot. Abnormalities in this meridian often lead to migraines and tinnitus, after years of testing, the Smiling Orchid indeed has the effect of relieving the diseases related with this Merdian, similar as acupuncture but not so strong.
Human body is a small universe. In the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the meridian plays similar role as river which guide the flow of Qi or energy to every corner of our bodies. If the flow is not smooth or blocked, illness or pain may occur. This is also how acupuncture treatment works, by suddenly stimulating the intersection of meridians to make the whole line flows smoothly again. As a result, the smooth state of the specific meridian is associated with healthy of related organs.
Emperor Li's Sleeping Incense (Rose Version)
Ingredient: Premium agarwood, Rose essential oil, Styrax oil, etc.
Emperor Li Yu (李煜, 937-978 AD), also known as Li Houzhu (Last Ruler of Southern Tang Dynasty). Although an incompetent ruler, he was a representative ci master during his era (ci, lyrics with a much more fluid form than those used by the great Tang poets). Meanwhile, he was also uncommonly talented in calligraphy, painting, music, poem and articles.
For his sleeping incense, it is out of the ordinary too. According to the original records, the first recipe used agarwood (沉香), Rose water (薔薇水) and Styrax oil (蘇合油). You know, this recipe was recorded in the Southern Tang Dynasty a thousand years ago. The production of rose oil or rose water did not exist in ancient China, and both the Rose and Styrax oil were obtained through the Silk Road from Arabian countries that time. This is a good example of ancient China meeting Arab and European civilizations.
Of course, it is not easy to make this incense, how to fully integrate the liquid oil and solid spices. Second, flower-derived ingredients tend to produce unpleasant odors once burning and are difficult to sustain long time. We refer to some flower processing methods in the Ming Dynasty, and finally made this incense perfectly.
Hope this wonderful blend of Agarwood and Rose will bring you good dreams, just like it brought the Emperor Li Yu a thousand of years ago.
Pls refer to:
https://dr-incense.com/blogs/dr-incense-blog/emperor-lis-sleeping-incense-ii