Kōdō

Kōdō ( _ja. 香道 - Way of Fragrance) is the Japanese art of appreciating incense, and involves using incense within a structure of codified conduct. Though it is counted as one of the three classical arts of refinement, it is relatively unknown amongst modern Japanese people. Kōdō includes all aspects of the incense process - from the tools ( _ja. 香道具 kōdōgu), which, much like tools of the tea ceremony, are valued as high art, to activities such the incense-comparing games kumikō ( _ja. 組香) and genjikō ( _ja. 源氏香).

Origins

According to legend, Kōdō's origin was when a log of incense wood drifted ashore on Awaji-shima island in the 3rd year of Empress Suiko (595 CE). People who found the incense wood noticed that the wood smelled marvelous when they put it near a fire. Then they presented the wood to local officials. At first the incense wood was used for religious purposes (mainly Buddhism) then was burned for appreciation and became one of the most popular traditional Japanese arts.

The structure and manner of Kōdō was organized similar to the present style in the Muromachi era [approximately the 15th century CE), almost the same time as the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the Ikebana style of flower arrangement.

Types of Incense

Kumikō

Participants sit near one another and take turns smelling incense from a censer as they pass it around the group. Participants comment on and make observations about the incense, and play games to guess the incense material. Genjikō is one such game, in which participants are to determine which of 5 prepared censers contain different scents, and which contain the same scent. Judgements are marked using genji-mon, linear patterns which designate chapters in the "Tale of Genji".

Incense Lore

Incense lore includes art, culture, history, and ceremony. It can be compared to and has some of the same qualities as music, art, or literature. Incense is also an integral part of the Japanese tea ceremony, just like Calligraphy, Ikebana, and Scroll Arrangement. These are five Classical Chinese Arts. Incense Lore involves natural incense woods and not artificial substitutes.

upplies and Costs

Kōdō incense material is readily available at quality incense suppliers. However incense wood is very expensive. For example, lower grade Kyara used for Kōdō costs about 5,000 yen per gram. Top quality Kyara costs about 13,000 yen per gram, or about ten times the equivalent weight of gold! And it can only be warmed and used once. But it can be stored for hundreds of years. If the particular piece of incense wood has a history, the price can be even higher.

References

*Pybus, David. "Kodo: The Way of Incense". Tuttle, 2001. (ISBN 0-8048-3286-2)

*Morita, Kiyoko. "The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents". Kodansha International, 2007. (ISBN 4-7700-3050-9)

External links

* [http://teaarts.blogspot.com/ Tea Lore - 茶學識 Tea Arts - 茶藝 Tea Lore, Tea Arts, Tea Culture, Incense Lore, and other classic Asian Arts]
* [http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/kodo.shtml Japan-Zone overview]
* [http://www.lizadalby.com/incensepagenew.htm Liza Dalby's notes on Heian Period kōdō and genjikō]
* [http://www.thefifthsense.com/at_your_service_pages/product_guidelines_kodoh.html Preparing Incense for Kodo]
* [http://www.avivson.ltd.uk www.avivson.ltd.uk] - a 12.41 min documentary film "KODO - The Art of Japanese Incense" produced by Janus Avivson, 2005, with narrative in English, French and Japanese.
* [http://www.nipponkodo.com/culture/column/200406/ Wide-ranging information about Japanese incense]