Changes

Incense features prominently in most East Asian societies. Though seen (smelled) in modern Japan chiefly in Buddhist contexts, where it serves a function of spiritual purification, incense was also burned for more non-religious, and even entertainment purposes, in earlier periods.

Incense features prominently in most East Asian societies. Though seen (smelled) in modern Japan chiefly in Buddhist contexts, where it serves a function of spiritual purification, incense was also burned for more non-religious, and even entertainment purposes, in earlier periods.

Incense came in a number of different forms, as it still does today, including sticks (''senkô'') and flat round "cakes." It was traditionally made from a variety of materials, including precious aromatic woods imported from China or Southeast Asia, such as [[aloeswood]] and ... One particularly famous piece of incense wood, known as the Ranjatai, has been kept in the [[Shosoin|Shôsôin]] imperial treasure house since the 8th century, and only on very rare occasions have pieces been permitted to be broken off and taken away as particularly prestigious gifts.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 45-46, 183n14.</ref>

Incense came in a number of different forms, as it still does today, including sticks (''senkô'') and flat round "cakes." It was traditionally made from a variety of materials, including precious aromatic woods imported from China or Southeast Asia, such as [[aloeswood]]. One particularly famous piece of incense wood, known as the Ranjatai, has been kept in the [[Shosoin|Shôsôin]] imperial treasure house since the 8th century, and only on very rare occasions have pieces been permitted to be broken off and taken away as particularly prestigious gifts.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 45-46, 183n14.</ref>

Incense is traditionally burned for one's ancestors, both in [[Confucianism|Confucian]]/Chinese folk traditions, and in [[Buddhism]]. It was also traditionally burned in a variety of court ceremonies, and in personal private contexts, as part of ritual practices for spiritual merit.<ref>Lee Butler, "Washing Off the Dust: Baths and Bathing in Late Medieval Japan," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 60:1 (2005). pp1-41.</ref> Incense was also burned in the pleasure quarters, and in certain other contexts, as a means of measuring time; in the [[Yoshiwara]], [[courtesans]] often charged a customer by the "hour," by how many incense sticks had burned down during their time together.

Incense is traditionally burned for one's ancestors, both in [[Confucianism|Confucian]]/Chinese folk traditions, and in [[Buddhism]]. It was also traditionally burned in a variety of court ceremonies, and in personal private contexts, as part of ritual practices for spiritual merit.<ref>Lee Butler, "Washing Off the Dust: Baths and Bathing in Late Medieval Japan," ''Monumenta Nipponica'' 60:1 (2005). pp1-41.</ref> Incense was also burned in the pleasure quarters, and in certain other contexts, as a means of measuring time; in the [[Yoshiwara]], [[courtesans]] often charged a customer by the "hour," by how many incense sticks had burned down during their time together.

As in China and Japan, incense was often burned traditionally in [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû]] as part of both Buddhist and non-Buddhist observances for the dead, as well as in court ceremonies and the like. Incense is also a prominent feature in worship practices in the native [[Ryukyuan religion]].

As in China and Japan, incense was often burned traditionally in [[Ryukyu Islands|Ryûkyû]] as part of both Buddhist and non-Buddhist observances for the dead, as well as in court ceremonies and the like. Incense is also a prominent feature in worship practices in the native [[Ryukyuan religion]].

Incense was also a common "gift" (or [[tribute]]) item given by the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] to the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] or to prominent figures associated with the shogunate.

Incense was also a common "gift" (or [[tribute]]) item given by the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|Ryûkyû Kingdom]] to the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] or to prominent figures associated with the shogunate. It came in a number of forms, including Daikan-kô 大官香, which came in long sticks, and was a local product of Ryûkyû; Jutai-kô 寿帯香, which came in thin white sticks, was said to repel [[habu|snakes]], and when burned produced ash in coils; and Ryûen-kô (Dragon Saliva Incense 龍涎香), which came in small, flat, round cakes roughly the size of a [[go]] stone, and which often had the characters for "longevity and fortune" (寿福) embossed into them.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 150.</ref>