When you hear the term, “Listening to Incense,” what comes to mind? Perhaps you imagine putting your ear up to morsels of resin incense melting and sizzling on a hot piece of charcoal as their smoke slowly dances upward?
Not quite… The type of ‘listening’ involved with “Listening to Incense” is actually quite different than you might think. In fact, it’s a ‘listening’ on many levels, excluding sound. One might say it’s a ‘listening’ with your entire being.
For centuries, Japanese incense masters have been Listening to Incense and deciphering the hidden messages, subtle sensations, distinct feelings, and the delicate aromas that can be experienced when ceremonially burning aromatic plants, in the ancient Japanese Koh-do tradition, or “The Way of Incense.”
What Is The Koh-do?
The Koh-do is a very elaborate, refined, and beautiful tradition, akin to the Japanese tea ceremony. In fact, this exquisite ritual was once more common than the tea ceremony a few hundred years ago, and was practiced by many Japanese officials, royal families, and members of court. Instead of tea leaves however, the focal point of this ceremonial tradition is medicinal aromatic plants like Agarwood (Oudh, Aloeswood), Sandalwood, and certain exotic spices.
The appreciation of incense in the Koh-do ceremony is a practice used to strengthen the olfactory senses, heighten states of meditation, and sharpen awareness, while strengthening one’s relationship to the actual plants used in the ceremonies. Wisdom and spiritual insights are often received from the experiences of those dedicated to this tradition.
The Koh-do is a ritual that helps people journey deeper into the multi-faceted experience of burning incense. And for those who practice with aromatic plants, essential oils, incense, or perfumery, the Koh-do can be one of the most profound tools for deepening understanding, experientially learning about the subtle effects of aromatic plants, and developing and expanding sensory observation and the olfactory palette in new ways.
The Ceremony
Participants of a Koh-do ceremony gather in a circle sitting on the ground with a ceremonial leader sitting at a low altar table at the head of the room. Various intricately decorated Koh-do tools are used during the ceremony. Small silver-plated tongs, chopsticks, spoons, feather dusters, and other decorated items help the Koh-do master conduct the ceremony and handle the materials and protocols with care and precision. Fine hand-painted pottery and exotic wooden incense trays adorned with beautiful designs or abalone inlay form the altar space itself.
Once the tools and altar are prepared and a Koh-do ceremony begins, a tiny piece of Agarwood is selected for a desired fragrance and effect. Sometimes other incense materials are used in the ceremony, but the incense of choice is most often Agarwood, what the Japanese call “jinkoh,” or Sandalwood.
The small fragment of incense is carefully placed on a mica plate, which sits on a small mound of rice ash that covers up a red hot charcoal. This mica plate and rice ash transfer the heat of the hot charcoal while acting as a heat buffer, allowing the precious scent from the plant material to be released without burning or singeing the incense and tainting the aroma with a charred smell. In this way, the purest form of aroma is released through gentle heat, allowing practitioners to experience the full, raw aroma of the ingredients used.
The ceramic cup containing the charcoal, rice ash, mica chip, and incense wood is then passed around the circle. One by one, participants focus on breathing in the rich fragrant essence through their nose, experiencing on many levels the pleasant beauty of aromas, the opening of the senses, sharpening of awareness, and uplifting of the spirit.
As time went on, different variations of the ceremony were formed. Games were eventually created to bring about a new level of social enjoyment and personal refinement of the senses. In these games, of which there were hundreds of variations, the Koh-do would proceed as usual, though participants were challenged with guessing particular values, subtle aromatic notes, even the regions where the Agarwood being burned had originated from! Yes, they were that tuned in!
A Fragrant History
The roots of the Koh-do tradition stem from the influence of early Buddhism in Japan in the sixth century. Many rites and rituals of Buddhism called for incense as a purification tool for altars and temples, and as sacred offerings. In ancient Japan, Buddhist rituals called for simple mixtures of just 5-7 exotic herbs and spices, such as Agarwood, Clove, Camphor, Cinnamon, Sandalwood, Galangal, and Ambergris, which were burned on hot charcoal.
With exploration and new trade routes established over the centuries, many exotic herbs and spices from India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Africa, and other parts of the world found there way to Japan. Since these aromatic materials were not in alignment with Buddhist tradition, they were reserved only for enjoyment and appreciation outside of rituals, and were referred to as soradaki, or “empty burning,” referring to their lack of spiritual purpose.
Using incense in non-religious ways slowly gained popularity among many royals, officials, and the higher class of Japan, who incorporated the scented smoke of incense to fumigate their living quarters, garments, letter paper, to accompany meditation and prayer, and to later partake in the Japanese incense ceremony, the Koh-do.
As incense mixed with the delicate and artistic nature of Japanese culture, over many centuries it developed beyond just a ceremonial offering and spiritual tool in Buddhist and political rites, into a precious aromatic art form that brought even more depth, beauty, sensuality, and creativity to an already rich and diverse, inspirational society.
It was around this time that the Koh-do was born. With a focus on aesthetics, presence, pleasure, awareness, and spirit, Koh-do ceremonies were performed throughout many inner circles of royalty, nobles, and military and government officials. It later became a popular tradition among the common people of Japan, and lives on to this day as one of the most renowned and refined aromatic arts of the world.
How You Can Benefit
The power behind the Koh-do can be of great benefit to anyone who works with aromatic plants, incense, essential oils, herbs, or perfume in any way. It can also be of immense value to anyone with a spiritual or meditation practice, as the “Way of Incense” can be a profound tool of personal transformation, increased awareness, evolution of consciousness, and refinement of the senses. Basically, the Koh-do is a practice that can help train you to become an aromatic samurai! Over time you can become a true master of the sense of smell and incense.
By learning specific practices you can easily do at home, you’ll learn to pick up on the intricacies, subtleties, and nuances of aromatic plants in ways most people will never come to know. Which can really help you in your aromatic and herbal formulas and creations, while helping to clarify and cultivate a more distinct olfactory palette. Through this ancient technology, people also establish more meaningful and deeply rooted relationships with the aromatic plants and incenses they burn when practicing the Koh-do and “Listening to Incense.”
Article by Evan Sylliaasen
Evan Sylliaasen is the founder of the Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine and Higher Mind Incense. For the past decade his incense company has been a leader in sustainability and conscious sourcing of aromatic plants. As the head instructor of his online school, he teaches aromatherapists, incense lovers, herbalists, and spiritually-minded folks the traditional art of incense crafting, incense as medicine, and the art of wild-harvesting aromatic plants responsibly.
Evan lives with his family in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains of Washington state. He channels his creative passions through writing, photography, wood working, craftsman building, and music. When he’s not working, he’s out in the garden, forest and fields, walking along rivers, beaches, or in the mountains breathing deeply.
© 2019-2021 Evan Sylliaasen, The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
