How to enjoy Japanese incense sticks (with a bit of background of the products)

Kaz's sister store, Wa-in Japanese Handicrafts, carries Japanese incense sticks

Now they are popular in Australia as a way of enjoying scents. By the way, how much do you know about Japanese incense? If you are interested, here is the story of the products. Enjoy our pocket story with coffee.
 

- Origin of Incense -

The history of fragrance is long. In Mesopotamia in 3,000 B.C.,when fragrant wood was burned during ceremonies.
It is believed that it was first introduced as part of Buddhist rituals in Japan. Incense sticks in the same form as those used nowadays came into use around the 16th century, but they were still very expensive and only upper-class aristocrats could use them at that time.
After that, production began in Sakai (Osaka Prefecture) and gradually spread to ordinary households during the Edo period (1603-1867).
 

- Meaning of Incense -

• It purifies the place, mind and body.

Just as fragrance has been used since ancient times for odor control and sterilization, the fragrance of incense has the effect of purifying and cleansing the place.

• Nourish the deceased

In Buddhism, there is a belief that a deceased person eats the good smell of incense.
Considering incense as "food for the deceased," incense scented with the their favorite food or drink may be a more pleasant offering for them.

• Connecting Heaven and this World

Smoke rising toward the heaven is thought to connect heaven and earth.
Our respect for the Buddha and ancestors reach them through the smoke of incense.

- How do modern incense sticks fit into our lives? -

• Incense sticks with less smoke have been developed to suit modern housing conditions and lifestyles.
• Many modern scents such as lavender and citrus used in aromatherapy, are getting popular.
• There are also made aromas of coffee, tea, sake, sweets, and other luxury items. The smoke of these can be offered as food for the deceased.

 

Please see our selection of Japanese incense here:

https://wainjapancrafts.com.au/collections/incense-holder

We hope you enjoyed this story of incense sticks today. Thank you for reading it to the end.

See you on the next story.