Chinese Incense History: From the Neolithic Period to pre-Middle Ages (Pre-Qin, Qin and Han Dynasties)
From oracle bones to imperial altars—discover how early China turned smoke into symbol, ritual, and everyday life (to ~3rd century CE).
- How the earliest Chinese characters captured the act of burning incense
- Why Zhou rituals made fragrance a symbol of virtue and reverence
- How the Silk Road transformed ingredients and uses of incense
- What archaeological finds reveal about pillows, pouches, burners, and perfumed life
Why do the Chinese burn incense? What is the purpose of traditional Chinese incense? These are common questions we often hear when sharing our story. Incense has been part of Chinese culture for thousands of years, evolving alongside its rituals, philosophies, and medicine. This article focuses on its use in ancient China up to the 3rd century CE. For the continuation—incense in early and high medieval China (3rd–10th centuries)—see the links at the end.
Neolithic Chinese Incense and Oracle Bone Script
The burning of plant materials for ceremonial and worship purposes dates back to the Neolithic period. Archaeological sites such as Shanghai’s Songze Relic Site (淞泽), dating roughly 6000 years ago, have uncovered evidence of ritual burning on altars.
The Zhou Dynasty: Incense as State Ritual
By the Zhou Dynasty (approx. 1050–250 BCE), elaborate ceremonies for worshipping the heavens had developed. These rituals became annual imperial duties for the next two millennia. Burning fragrant plants was believed to send a pleasing aroma upward to the divine, symbolizing reverence and purity. The act had its own character: 禋 (yin), meaning “to offer fragrance.”
The earliest Chinese poetry collection, the Classic of Poetry (《诗经》, 11th–7th centuries BCE), mentions yin and the burning of mugwort in “Da Ya · Sheng Min”. The Han scholar Zheng Xuan later annotated the Book of Documents (《尚书》) with: “禋，芬芳之祭也”—“Yin is the fragrant sacrifice.”
Fragrance thus gained a sacred role in Zhou society. The great poem Li Sao (《离骚》) by Qu Yuan uses aromatic plants—orchids, comfrey, magnolia dew—as moral symbols of purity amid corruption. Another record notes that King Qi Huan Gong bathed and anointed himself with fragrant herbs three times before meeting his advisor Guan Zhong (《国语·齐语》).
From Qin to Han: The Silk Road Changes the Scent
The Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE) unified China, creating a centralized empire and setting the stage for the long and prosperous Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). During these centuries, incense culture expanded dramatically—both in materials and meanings.
With growing wealth, territorial expansion, and the opening of the Silk Road, new resins and spices entered China. While Zhou incense was mostly made from leaves and flowers, the Han favored resin-based incense such as frankincense and myrrh for their longevity and strength.
Incense remained central in worship but also became integral to palace life and traditional medicine. Records from Ceremonies of Han Officials (《汉官仪》) describe palace attendants carrying censers to perfume the emperor’s robes. Tomb excavations reveal the same dual purpose—ritual and hygienic. The antibacterial nature of incense helped preserve bodies, while its fragrance signified nobility and peace.
The Readings of the Taiping Era (《太平御览》) cites that during Han times, communities in present-day Vietnam collected incense as a main occupation, showing its economic scale. Meanwhile, Taoism (emerging in the 2nd century CE) taught that deities feed on incense vapor, while Buddhism (introduced in the 1st century) adopted incense deeply into its temple rites—further elevating its cultural status.
By the 3rd Century: A Fragrant Civilization
By the 3rd century CE, incense had become an inseparable part of Chinese life—used in ritual, medicine, domestic living, and philosophy. Over the next 1500 years, its story would continue to evolve through the Tang, Song, and Ming–Qing dynasties.
Continue the journey:
Quick Timeline Recap (up to ~3rd century CE)
- Neolithic: Earliest ritual burning on altars; incense tied to worship.
- Shang: Oracle bone character 祡 depicts offering smoke to the sky.
- Zhou: State ritual “禋” formalized; fragrance equated with virtue and refinement.
- Qin–Han: Silk Road imports resins; incense enters palaces, medicine, and tombs.
- Religion: Taoism and Buddhism institutionalize incense as divine nourishment.
FAQ
What does the ancient term “禋” (yin) mean?
It refers to the ritual of offering fragrance to the heavens—a specific form of sacrifice using scented materials.
Why did the Han prefer resin incense?
Resins burned longer and traveled better along trade routes, making them ideal for temples and palaces.
What do archaeological finds tell us?
Objects like censers, pouches, and herbal pillows show how incense merged with daily life, medicine, and spirituality.