The Chinese Traceability of Aromatherapy

China has a history of aromatherapy since ancient times. Ancient people have known that aromatherapy can beautify, relieve pain, eliminate fatigue and relieve depression. In the fifth chapter of Dream of the Red Chamber, "Jia Baoyu's Journey to the Realm of the Great Void", it is written that police fantasies "brought Baoyu into the room. But smelled a fragrance, I do not know what I smelled". Police fantasy sneer: "This incense is not earthly, how can you know! This is the first born of the famous mountains and scenic spots of the essence of the flowers, and a variety of precious forest beads tree oil made, called 'group fragrance marrow'." Since ancient times, incense in the Chinese imperial court and the living life of the rich and noble families, is an indispensable component.

Burning incense began as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. According to Gleanings, in the second year of King Zhaowang of Yan (585 B.C.), the state of Pogi paid tribute to the "incense of Tsuenwu". However, before the Qin and Han Dynasties, China has not incense and other spices imported. At that time, what was burned were herbs such as orchids and cymbidiums. In the era of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty, Lingnan gradually communicated with the Central Plains. Due to Emperor Wu's good Taoism, the southern counties have contributed to the treasures, spices have been introduced to the Central Plains, no longer burned grass incense.

There are many varieties of spices. The most valuable spice is incense, in addition to China's Lingnan area production, at that time, Chenla (now Cambodia), Chamchung (now central Vietnam) and other places are also produced. Later there were sandalwood, chicken tongue incense, lobster head incense and other varieties. Zhao Feiyan, the favorite concubine of Emperor Chengdi of Han Dynasty, smoked all kinds of incense, and the fragrance of the place where she sat did not stop for a hundred days. Emperor Wu greeted the Queen Mother of the West, once burnt "hundred and incense". These are myths and legends, but also confirmed that the time has burned spices. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, spices have become one of the necessities of life in the court and the rich and noble families. Burning incense, incense, also became an important part of the material and spiritual life of the upper social class. Cao Cao in the regime before, once "forbidden home shall not incense," to show the simplicity; also once gifted Zhuge Liang "chicken tongue incense five pounds, in order to express the slightest intention"; dying will order: "the remaining incense can be divided with the ladies. " After the Tang and Song dynasties, on the incense, incense, spice production, incineration and other aspects of the writings more up, so there is a "tea by the incense biography," said. Incense and tea, has become an integral part of traditional Chinese culture.

On general occasions, the ancients were made of spices into cakes, placed in a special incense burner burning. Dream of Red Mansions" fifty-three "Rongguo House Lantern Festival Banquet", it is described that: "Jia mother crooked on the couch. Under the couch ...... only a high table, set up with elevated tassels, vases, incense burners and other things." The earliest incense burner called "Boshan incense burner", legend has it that the Queen Mother of the West gave to Emperor Wu of Han. That shape is modeled on the image of the legend of the sea fairy mountain Boshan, below the plate, storage of hot water, so that the steam steam incense, symbolizing the sea of the ring, above the stove cover such as the mountain, smoke from the cover out, just like the mountain Teng Lan gas, showing a mountain and sea like, this incense burner, and later called "Baodin". Dream of the Red Chamber" seventeenth "Grand View Garden test questions couplets", Jia Baoyu has a link: "Baoding tea idle smoke is still green", depicting the Baoding furnace incense burning scenario. The way the ancients burned incense, generally must be in a deep room in the secluded room, with a short table set stove, and people knee level. On the fire with a silver leaf or mica sheet made of shallow disk containing incense. Incense is not as good as the fire, so that the natural soothing and no smoke and dry air, but since the wind curls. No wonder Baoyu stepped into Qin's bedroom, there is a fine sweet fragrance, so that Baoyu eyes molasses bone soft, even said "good fragrance".

Today, people incense, in fact, can also be simple, according to local conditions, do not necessarily have to go to the beauty salon. With the continuous opening of the market, a variety of spices can be purchased everywhere, can do it yourself, in the home leisure incense. And, in addition to the spices in addition to incense, some potted flowers, can also be placed indoors, or workplace, to play a natural aromatherapy effect.