Incense Offers Glimpse of Traditional Life

By Chung Ah-young

Staff Reporter

For many people, burning incense is seen as a religious ritual, as depicted throughout history.

However, incense is widely used in various fields and has many social roles, regardless of race or region.

It was originally associated only with religious activities, but over time, it has developed gradually into everyday culture around the world.

Incense materials and their smoke have been adopted in medicine and emerged as a culture of aesthetic appreciation, which has facilitated even greater ubiquity for incense burning.

To show various aspects of incense and aromas, the Coreana Cosmetics Museum is holding an exhibition titled ``Hyang, the Experience of Incense.''

The exhibition displays 30 pieces of incense-related items, as used through Korean history.

The exhibition is designed to show incense not only through the sense of smell but through all five senses, raising awareness of the traditional fragrance and reviving it as a traditional aroma culture.

Incense was used in religious ceremonies in Korea, presumably going back to ancient times, according to the museum.

During the Three Kingdoms (57 B.C.-A.D. 668) Korean traditional aroma culture developed with the introduction of Buddhism.

Silla people used to carry aromatic plant bags in their pockets regardless of their social hierarchy.

Also, on the tomb murals of the Goguryeo era, people are painted along with the depiction of incense burners.

The custom of incense burning continued throughout the Goryeo Kingdom (918 - 1392) and was carried out by the royal family, aristocratic women as well as ordinary people.

Incense was widely used as varieties of aromatic substances were imported through increased trade with foreign countries.