Editing Incense (section)

==Cultural variations==
===Arabian===
In most [[Arab]] countries, incense is burned in the form of scented chips or blocks called {{lang|ar-Latn|bakhoor}} ({{langx|ar|بَخُورٌ}} {{IPA|ar|baˈxuːɾ|}}). Incense is used on special occasions like [[wedding]]s or on Fridays or generally to perfume the house. The {{lang|ar-Latn|bakhoor}} is usually burned in a {{lang|ar-Latn|[[mabkhara]]}} ({{langx|ar|مبخر}} or {{lang|ar|مبخرة}}), a traditional incense burner ([[censer]]) similar to the Somali {{lang|so|[[dabqaad]]}}. It is customary in many Arab countries to pass {{lang|ar-Latn|bakhoor}} among the guests in the {{lang|ar-Latn|[[majlis]]}} ({{lang|ar|مَجْلِسٌ‎}}, 'congregation'). This is done as a gesture of [[hospitality]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://viennaimports.com/blog/articles/incense-around-world |title=Incense Around The World |date=2 February 2018 |publisher=Vienna Imports}}</ref>

===Chinese===
[[File:Wierook branden in de Lama Tempel Beijing China augustus 2007.JPG|thumb|Incense at [[Yonghe Temple]] in [[Beijing, China]]]]
{{Main|Incense in China}}

For over two thousand years, the Chinese have used incense in religious ceremonies, [[ancestor veneration in China|ancestor veneration]], [[traditional Chinese medicine]], and daily life. [[Agarwood]] ({{lang-zh |c=沉香 |p=chénxiāng |labels=no }}) and [[sandalwood]] ({{lang-zh |c=檀香 |p=tánxiāng |labels=no}}) are the two most important ingredients in Chinese incense.

Along with the introduction of [[Buddhism in China]] came calibrated incense sticks and [[incense clock]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bedini |first=Silvio A. |year=1963 |title=The Scent of Time. A Study of the Use of Fire and Incense for Time Measurement in Oriental Countries |journal=Transactions of the American Philosophical Society |volume=53 |issue=5 |doi=10.2307/1005923 |pages=1–51 |jstor=1005923 |hdl=2027/mdp.39076006361401 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> The first known record is by poet Yu Jianwu (487–551): "By burning incense we know the o'clock of the night, With graduated candles we confirm the tally of the watches."<ref>Schafer, Edward H. (1963). [https://books.google.com/books?id=QerLX9x8pIkC ''The Golden Peaches of Samarkand, a Study of T'ang Exotics'']. [[University of California Press]]. p. 155.</ref> The use of these incense timekeeping devices spread from Buddhist monasteries into Chinese secular society.

[[Image:JossSticks003.jpg|thumb|Big Dragon incense sticks]]

Incense-stick burning is an everyday practice in traditional [[Chinese folk religion|Chinese religion]]. There are many different types of sticks used for different purposes or on different festive days. Many of them are long and thin. Sticks are mostly coloured yellow, red, or more rarely, black.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INCENSE AND INCENSE STICKS: TYPES, COMPONENTS, ORIGIN AND THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND IMPORTANCE AMONG DIFFERENT RELIGIONS |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345055234|access-date=2021-05-28 |website=ResearchGate |language=en}}</ref> Thick sticks are used for special ceremonies, such as funerals.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} Spiral incense, with exceedingly long burn times, is often hung from temple ceilings. In some states, such as Taiwan, Singapore, or Malaysia, where they celebrate the [[Ghost Festival]], large, pillar-like dragon incense sticks are sometimes used. These generate so much smoke and heat that they are only burned outside.

Chinese incense sticks used in popular religion are generally odorless or only use the slightest trace of jasmine or rose, since it is the smoke, not the scent, which is important in conveying the prayers of the faithful to heaven.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} They are composed of the dried powdered bark of a non-scented species of [[cinnamon]] native to Cambodia, ''[[Cinnamomum cambodianum]]''.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} Inexpensive packs of 300 are often found for sale in Chinese supermarkets. Though they contain no sandalwood, they often include the Chinese character for sandalwood on the label, as a generic term for incense.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Highly scented Chinese incense sticks are used by some Buddhists.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} These are often quite expensive due to the use of large amounts of sandalwood, [[agarwood]], or floral scents. The [[sandalwood]] used in Chinese incenses does not come from India, its native home, but rather from groves planted within Chinese territory. Sites belonging to [[Tzu Chi]], [[Chung Tai Shan]], [[Dharma Drum Mountain]],<ref>{{cite web |author=TOP |url=http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aedu/201408240278-1.aspx |title=不燒香 法鼓山行之有年 &#124; 生活 &#124; 中央社即時新聞 CNA NEWS |website=Cna.com.tw |access-date=2016-07-20}}</ref> [[Xingtian Temple]], or [[City of Ten Thousand Buddhas]] do not use incense.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20140901/461840/ |title=我們都誤會行天宮了 &#124; 即時新聞 &#124; 20140901 &#124; 蘋果日報 |website=Appledaily.com.tw |access-date=2016-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=作者：廣興 |url=http://hk.plm.org.cn/dispKw.asp?id=1024 |title=香港宝莲禅寺佛教文化传播网 |website=Hk.plm.org.cn |access-date=2016-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408125236/http://hk.plm.org.cn/dispKw.asp?id=1024 |archive-date=2016-04-08 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ycwb.com/gb/content/2005-11/14/content_1018915.htm |title=全球买家•缅甸 缅甸：谈生意莫选星期二 |website=Ycwb.com |date=2005-11-14 |access-date=2016-07-20 |archive-date=2016-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408125311/http://www.ycwb.com/gb/content/2005-11/14/content_1018915.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Christian===
[[File:Incense_at_Roman_Catholic_Mass.jpg|thumb|The use of incense occurs during [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], with a thurible, in the Catholic and Lutheran traditions]]
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the [[Bible]]; its use in prayer and worship carries with it a [[Christian symbolism]].<ref name="ELCA2013">{{cite web |title=Why and how do we use incense in worship? |url=https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Why_and_how_do_we_use_incense_in_worship.pdf |publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church of America]] |access-date=29 January 2025 |date=2013}}</ref> Incense is used in  Christian churches, including the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]], [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Assyrian Church of the East]], [[Oriental Orthodox]], [[Lutheran]] and [[Old Catholic]] denominations, as well as in some [[Methodism|Methodist]], [[Continental Reformed churches|Continental Reformed]], [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]], and [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]] churches. A [[thurible]] is used to hold the burning incense. Each thurible consists of a censer section, chains to hold and swing it, a perforated lid, and a [[crucible]] in which burning charcoal is placed. The incense is placed directly upon the charcoal, where it melts to produce a sweet smelling smoke. This may be done several times during the religious service as the incense burns quite quickly. The thurible is swung by its chains to fan the charcoal, to produce copious smoke, and to distribute the smoke.<ref name="Herrera">[https://www.scribd.com/doc/170397802 Herrera, Matthew D. ''Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church.'' San Luis Obispo:  Tixlini Scriptorium, 2011.]</ref>

===Indian===
{{main|Incense in India}}
[[File:Incense in India.jpg|thumb|Incense in India]]
Incense sticks, also known as {{lang|hi-Latn|agarbattī}} ({{langx|hi|अगरबत्ती}}) and joss sticks, in which an incense paste is rolled or moulded around a bamboo stick, are the main forms of incense in India. The bamboo method originated in India and is distinct from the Nepali, Tibetan, and Japanese methods of stick making without bamboo cores.

The basic ingredients are the bamboo stick, the paste (generally made of charcoal dust and joss/jiggit/gum/tabu powder – an adhesive made from the bark of [[litsea glutinosa]] and other trees),<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eu8_q_7rBD4C&pg=PA50 |title=Markets and Rural Poverty: Upgrading in Value Chains |page=50 |author1=Jonathan Mitchell |author2=Christopher Coles |publisher=IDRC |year=2011 |access-date=5 August 2013 |isbn=9781849713139}}</ref> and the perfume ingredients - which would be a masala ([[spice mix]]) powder of ground ingredients into which the stick would be rolled, or a perfume liquid sometimes consisting of synthetic ingredients into which the stick would be dipped. Perfume is sometimes sprayed on the coated sticks. Stick machines are sometimes used, which coat the stick with paste and perfume, though the bulk of production is done by hand rolling at home. There are about 5,000 incense companies in India that take raw unperfumed sticks hand-rolled by approximately 200,000 women working part-time at home, and then apply their own brand of perfume, and package the sticks for sale.<ref name=Harper2>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VODZCM5qblYC&pg=PA249 |title=Inclusive Value Chains: A Pathway Out of Poverty |author=Malcolm Harper |page=249 |publisher=World Scientific |year=2010  |access-date=4 August 2013 |isbn=9789814295000}}</ref> An experienced home-worker can produce 4,000 raw sticks a day.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bVIuvRibcegC&pg=PA16 |title=South Indian Factory Workers: Their Life and Their World |author=Mark Holmström |page=16 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |date=3 Dec 2007 |access-date=5 August 2013 |isbn=9780521048125}}</ref> There are about 50 large companies that together account for up to 30% of the market, and around 500 of the companies, including a significant number of the main ones, including Moksh Agarbatti, [[PremaNature]], and [[Cycle Pure]], are based in Mysore.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EymP-cYw2KsC&pg=PA84 |title=Urban Energy Systems |author=B. Sudhakara Reddy |page=84 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |date=1 Jan 1998 |access-date=5 August 2013 |isbn=9788170226819}}</ref>

=== Jewish Temple in Jerusalem ===<!--This section is linked from [[Incense offering in rabbinic literature]] and [[Ketoret]] ([[MOS:HEAD]])-->
{{main|Incense offering in rabbinic literature}}

[[Ketoret]] ({{langx|he|קְטֹרֶת‎}}) was the incense offered in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] and is stated in the [[Book of Exodus]] to be a mixture of [[stacte]], [[onycha]], [[galbanum]] and [[frankincense]].<ref name="smellsbells.com">{{cite web |last=Herrera |first=Matthew D. |title=Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church |publisher=San Luis Obispo: Tixlini Scriptorium |date=2011 |url=http://www.smellsbells.com/incense.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912022346/http://www.smellsbells.com/incense.pdf |archive-date=2012-09-12}}</ref>

===Japanese===
{{Main|Japanese incense}}

[[File:IncenseStack0203.jpg|thumb|Stacks of incense at a temple in Japan]]

In Japan incense appreciation [[folklore]] includes art, culture, history, and ceremony. Incense burning may occasionally take place within the [[tea ceremony]], just like [[calligraphy]], [[ikebana]], and [[kakemono|scroll]] arrangement. {{nihongo||香道|Kōdō}}, the art of incense appreciation, is generally practiced as a separate art form from the tea ceremony, and usually within a tea room of traditional Zen design.

{{nihongo|Agarwood|沈香|jinkō}} and {{nihongo|sandalwood|白檀|byakudan}} are the two most important ingredients in Japanese incense. The characters in agarwood mean "incense that sinks in water" due to the weight of the resin in the wood. Sandalwood is used in the [[Japanese tea ceremony]]. The most valued sandalwood comes from [[Mysore]] in the state of [[Karnataka]] in India.{{cn|date=August 2019}}

Japanese incense companies divide agarwood into six categories depending on its properties and the region from which it is obtained.{{cn|date=August 2019}} {{Nihongo||伽羅|Kyara}}, a type of agarwood, is currently worth more than its weight in gold.{{cn|date=August 2019}}{{when|date=August 2019}}