Smoke, Strings, and Stillness: A Short History of Chinese Incense (Zhou–Qing)

“… In the medieval world of the Far East there was little clear-cut distinction among drugs, spices, perfumes, and incense – that is, among substances which nourish the body and those which nourish the spirit, those which attract a lover and those which attract a divinity”

• Why xiang (香) means far more than “incense” in Chinese
• The evolution of incense from Zhou & Han to Tang–Song and Ming–Qing
• How scholar rituals shaped aesthetics—and what they teach modern mindfulness

This quote perfectly captures the use of incense in ancient and medieval China. The first recorded use of incense in human history was in ancient China, and for significant periods of Chinese history, incense was treasured as an integral part of a person’s spiritual and physical life. It was drug, spice, perfume, and connector to otherworldly forces all in one.

The Character for “Incense” in Chinese

The easiest way to understand just how pervasive incense was in historical China is to first look at the Chinese word for incense.

Historical Records for the Chinese Character for Incense

The character for incense or aromatics was recorded as far back as the Shang Dynasty (~1600–1050 BCE). Below is the original Oracle bone inscription, and the earliest recorded Chinese writing for the character. Chinese is pictographic, so they are literally derived from original drawings of the thing being depicted. Do you see the container at the bottom, with the burning plants on top? And the very graphic pieces of ashes falling? Even after having evolved for thousands of years, the character today (香) keeps this structure of having something resembling an incense burner at the bottom, and burning incense with ashes on top.

Incense as Drug, Spice, Perfume, and Spiritual Aid

A simple search on Google for the definition of 香 (xiang) brings up the following definitions:

• As a noun: incense, perfume, spice
• As an adjective: fragrant, scented, comforted, welcomed (common uses: “xiang” food, “xiang” sleep, certain items selling very “xiang”)

It’s immediately obvious from these definitions that “xiang” has a far broader set of meanings compared to the English word “incense”. In fact, the definitions of xiang reflect almost all of its historical uses and connotations as mentioned in the quote at the beginning.

Oracle bone inscriptions mention the multiple uses of aromatics: fragrant wood burning as part of worshipping and ceremonial practices; and sweet smelling herbs used to create some of the earliest forms of alcoholic drinks.

Before the Middle Ages: Zhou, Qin, Han & Pre-Tang

By the Zhou dynasty (周, approx. 1050–250 BCE), a fairly elaborate ceremony for the worshipping of the skies had evolved, and the burning of scented herbs and woods was a central part of the ceremony.

The Qin and the subsequent Han dynasty (汉, 206 BCE–220) saw the establishment of the Silk Road, and along with it imports of many foreign ingredients such as frankincense. Incense use grew significantly in variety and sophistication.

The first known Chinese book written about aromatics was Blended Incense Recipes 《和香方》, by historian and politician Fan Ye (范晔) in the Northern & Southern Dynasties (~430 CE). The book is now lost, but citations show it prescribed medicinal aromatic blends.

For a broader overview of early development, see: Chinese Incense History: Neolithic to Han.

Middle Ages Brilliance: Tang & Song

By the Tang Dynasty (唐, ~600–900 CE), incense had become a “luxury good” deeply embedded in palace and upper-class life. Aromatics were gifted to rulers and courtiers; fashionable elites perfumed water, wore sachets, and even used fragrant woods for furniture.

Incense use, trade, and research reached a peak in the Song Dynasty (宋, ~900–1200 CE), spreading into literati and middle-class life. A proliferation of books guided blending, etiquette, and aesthetics. In temples, incense structured daily mindfulness and devotion.

Dive deeper into this golden period: Chinese Incense History: The Golden Middle Ages (Song & Yuan).

Renaissance to the End of Empire: Ming & Qing

Incense popularity surged through the Ming (明, 1368–1644) and Qing (清, 1636–1912). “Hong Kong” is often linked to its role as an agarwood port—Heung Gong (Incense Port) in Cantonese, phonetically rendered as Hong Kong.

The archetypal incense encyclopedia, Xiang Sheng 《香乘》, was compiled by Zhou Jiazhou (周嘉胄, 1582–1661) after 20+ years of research. It catalogued ingredients, properties, and Song-era formulas—becoming a touchstone for creators.

From mid-Ming to Qing, stick-making techniques matured and sticks became the dominant form. With the fall of the Qing in 1912 and decades of turmoil, many traditions paused—only recently has a revival begun.

More on later historical developments can be found in subsequent parts of our series (Tang; Song & Yuan; Ming & Qing).

From Scholar Studios to Modern Homes

We hope that this brief glimpse into the role of incense in Chinese history will inspire you to incorporate the ritual of incense into your daily life, just as it has inspired us—light a stick, steady your breath, and let attention return to the present.

Quick Timeline Recap

• Shang: Oracle bone 香—incense as ritual & medicine.
• Zhou–Han: Court ceremonies; Silk Road expands ingredients.
• Tang: Luxury and courtly life; perfumed arts flourish.
• Song: Peak of literati incense culture; manuals proliferate.
• Ming–Qing: Technical refinement; sticks dominate; encyclopedias compiled.
• Modern: Pause and revival; incense returns as a mindfulness aid.

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