Why ancient people like incense

This is related to the ancient people believe in the concept of "aroma of sex".

Chinese people with a long history of incense, aromatic substances have long been used by the ancients to perfume the body, to prevent filth, improve the environment. The original incense, mostly made of aromatic plants, in today's view, this is the real natural spices.

Early use of incense is relatively simple, sometimes is directly inserted wearing vanilla. Qu Yuan's poem "Li Sao" says: "The river is away from the dahurica, and sewing autumn orchids to wear." Means will be Jiang Li Zhi grass draped over the shoulder, the autumn orchid knot into a rope hanging beside the body, which is popular in the Warring States period of a popular custom of inserting and wearing herbs.

While the more common way, it is a kind of aromatic substances will be vanilla picked and dried, put into a small pocket, made into a fragrant bag, called "scent bag".

In the 1970s archaeological excavations in Changsha, Mawangdui Han tomb, was unearthed a scented pouch, the Department of fine silk fabrics sewn, filled with aromatic plants.

Expanded information

Qin and Han Dynasty and later, wearing scented sachets became a popular way of consumption of incense and custom. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the literati Fan Qin wrote in his "Poem on Fixing Love", "Why do you knock and knock, and tie the scented pouch to the back of your elbow." The meaning is to tie the scented pouch under the bladder arm, wear a long sleeve, hide and cover it, there will be a dark fragrance wafting out.

In addition to tying it under the arm, it can also be hidden in the bosom, and can also be used as a decorative object, hanging in front of the chest. Ancient people like to wear scented pouches, and not just to incense the body, remove odor, there are health care and medical considerations. Ancient people believed that the fragrant plants have special medical functions, many aromatic plants were listed as "medicine" by the ancient Chinese medical doctors, and was recommended to use.

It is worth noting that the ancient Chinese, in order to scent the body, in addition to wearing a scent bag, there is also the phenomenon of direct consumption of incense, aromatic substances into the daily diet. The four aromatics, cymbidium, orchid leaves, cinnamon bark and pepper leaves, were either mixed with food, brewed into wine or made into beverages for drinking.

People's Daily Online - "aroma nourishes the sex" Ancient people manufacturing perfume began when