How to Burn Incense in the Japanese Manner
There is a wide range of herbal incense products and mixtures which are created from varied ingredients, gathered from all over the world. These are only the finest items which are utilized, and all are free from sprays and synthetic ingredients. If fresh and rejuvenating is what you’re hoping to gain, you will find it with these herbal incense and potpourri items. However, there are multiple standards utilized when deriving these natural substances, and some are far better than others.
Herbal incense burning actually originated from a spiritual cultural, and that is the Japanese one. The Japanese, along with many other Asian countries have been burning these items for centuries, and they are significantly found within ceremonial customs and prayer There is a slightly different way that those in Japan burn herbal incense, and it is different from any that you might already be familiar with. Because the Japanese hold these rituals and customs in high standing, they are careful what fragrances they utilize and how they are assembled when burning. However, there are two very innovative methods that they favor, and which have remained popular for many years. Here, in this body of literature we will explain these methods to you and instruct you on how to burn your herbal incense in the same manner in order to reap the plentiful benefits.
The Japanese Kodo Methodology
This method is all about patience and taking your time before you ever even begin burning the incense itself. For instance, the resin items and all of the wooded materials are heated thoroughly, and the goal is to not burn them rapidly, but rather in allowing them to emit heat in just the right manner, for preparation of the incense burning.
A Japanese Kodo cup is actually filled with non-flammable substances, normally the white rice ash, which is common. Following this, the custom is to bury sulfur free charcoal deeply among the white rice ash. You have to allow for ventilation to come through these mixtures. This allows for a mica plate to be positioned over this hole, and in finality, the incense ingredients are then placed in this small dish to be burned.
The Japanese Trail Methodology
This method is quite different from the previous one and it involves utilizing what is known as a ‘koh’ press. This is a wooden press which is totally filled with the white rice ash mixture, something like what was carried out in the first method. However, the wooden press actually firmly presses this mixture down completely, making a depression within it.
Japanese incense burners then pour makko into this for lighting purposes. Once this is all completed and readied, the incense ingredients are poured directly into the hole and mixed with the makko. The creativity of this method has led many professional incense developers into believing that the actual incense stones, which are now abundant, were derived from the very philosophy that brought about this method. Of course, the stone method is meant for herbal incense that is normally burned during alternative therapy treatments, among others.