凡所有相，皆是虚妄

Everything with from is unreal – The Diamond Sutra

In the Song Dynasty, people practiced Buddhist meditation to cultivate the mind, Daoist principles for healthy living, and Confucianism to achieve social order. They believed in a sacred world that corresponded to secular life. Worshippers would entrust their wishes to supernatural forces and, in return, make votive offerings, completing a human-deity covenant.In this context, burning incense became a tool for conveying one's intentions. The act of "burning" symbolizes "sending," while "incense" conveys the meaning of "trust." Incense and stick incense serve as a bridge connecting the earthly and the divine, allowing individuals to communicate with another realm.

Burning incense is a tradition that has been passed down for thousands of years in Chinese culture and is a significant aspect of Chinese folk life. Historical texts such as the "Book of Songs" and the "Book of Documents" document its origins, which predate these texts and thus date back to the Western Zhou period.

In Daoism, there is a saying, "A single stick of true incense communicates with the divine; blessings descend from the high spirits." The practice of burning incense is also mentioned in the "Mantra of the Five Parts," which states, "Regularly burning heart incense achieves great tranquility." For Eastern cultures, burning incense is a universal practice with profound significance. It expresses respect, gratitude, and remembrance of one's faith, purifies the surrounding environment, and attracts positive energy.