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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 April 2013
Chinese perfumery arts have a history of two or three thousand years. The art however, was never specifically separated from medicine, personal grooming or food culture; many aromatic materials were used for all of these purposes. In comparison to western traditions it is notable that Chinese perfumery was local in character. The aromatic raw materials employed were often native to Chinese lands, or imported from nearby. Moreover, Chinese perfumery differs from the western tradition in regard to the way in which a few outstanding aromatics have been employed.
Translation by Li Ma and Mu Gan, edited by Dinah Jung.
The author grew up in a lively perfumery surrounding in Chinese society during his childhood, observed the developments during the Cultural Revolution, and also experienced the revival of Chinese perfumery in recent years. He has published on Chinese perfumery.
2 Qi 〔 氣 / 气 〕 .
3 Kōdō (Japanese term, ‘The Way of Incense’) refers to ritual practices of appreciating incense.
4 〔 香 文 化 〕, ‘incense culture’.
5 〔 香 道 〕, ‘The Way of Incense’, mirroring the Japanese expression of 〔 香 道 〕, kōdō, ‘The Way of Incense’.
6 The incense material is traditionally not put directly on the burning charcoal, but with the help of a small plate, it is instead placed into the rising warm air. The development of smoke is thus avoided, and merely the essential oil vaporises.
