History
The birthplace
According to historical records, incense was introduced to Japan in 595 during the reign of
Empress Suiko. The Chronicles of Japan, the country’s first historical annals, document the arrival of incense in the third year of Empress Suiko’s reign. In the summer of the fourth month, a type of wood known as Jimi, or agarwood, washed up on the shores of Awaji Island. The locals were unfamiliar with this type of wood and used it as firewood in their furnaces. The aroma of the smoke that resulted was carried a long distance, drawing attention to the unique properties of Jimi. The islanders eventually presented the wood to the Empress.
Agarwood, or Jinkoh, is a primary component of incense. The name Jimi comes from the fact that this wood is heavier than water and therefore tends to sink. While it seems unlikely that such heavy wood could drift from Southeast Asia, where it is typically found, it may have washed ashore from a shipwreck. The Chronicles of Japan indicate that the recognition of incense was already apparent at that time.
When villagers on Awaji Island found a large piece of agarwood that had washed ashore, they presented it to Prince Shotoku, who was looking for wood to create a statue of the Goddess of Mercy. The Prince was delighted with the gift and used the wood to create the statue, which was then enshrined. The village mayor, who had recently returned from Nara, reported that the Prince was so delighted with the gift that he suggested the remaining wood be enshrined in the village. Before long, the villagers constructed the Kareki Shrine to house the remaining wood.
According to historical records, incense was introduced to Japan in 595 during the reign of Empress Suiko. The Chronicles of Japan, the country’s first historical annals, document the arrival of incense in the third year of Empress Suiko’s reign. In the summer of the fourth month, a type of wood known as Jimi, or agarwood, washed up on the shores of Awaji Island. The locals were unfamiliar with this type of wood and used it as firewood in their furnaces. The aroma of the smoke that resulted was carried a long distance, drawing attention to the unique properties of Jimi. The islanders eventually presented the wood to the Empress.
Agarwood, or Jinkoh, is a primary component of incense. The name Jimi comes from the fact that this wood is heavier than water and therefore tends to sink. While it seems unlikely that such heavy wood could drift from Southeast Asia, where it is typically found, it may have washed ashore from a shipwreck. The Chronicles of Japan indicate that the recognition of incense was already apparent at that time.
When villagers on Awaji Island found a large piece of agarwood that had washed ashore, they presented it to Prince Shotoku, who was looking for wood to create a statue of the Goddess of Mercy. The Prince was delighted with the gift and used the wood to create the statue, which was then enshrined. The village mayor, who had recently returned from Nara, reported that the Prince was so delighted with the gift that he suggested the remaining wood be enshrined in the village. Before long, the villagers constructed the Kareki Shrine to house the remaining wood.
According to historical records, incense was introduced to Japan in 595 during the reign of Empress Suiko. The Chronicles of Japan, the country’s first historical annals, document the arrival of incense in the third year of Empress Suiko’s reign.
In the summer of the fourth month, a type of wood known as Jimi, or agarwood, washed up on the shores of Awaji Island.
The locals were unfamiliar with this type of wood and used it as firewood in their furnaces. The aroma of the smoke that resulted was carried a long distance, drawing attention to the unique properties of Jimi. The islanders eventually presented the wood
to the Empress.
Agarwood, or Jinkoh, is a primary component of incense. The name Jimi comes from the fact that this wood is heavier than water and therefore tends to sink. While it seems unlikely that such heavy wood could drift from Southeast Asia, where it is typically found, it may have washed ashore from a shipwreck. The Chronicles of Japan indicate that the recognition of incense was already apparent at that time.
When villagers on Awaji Island found a large piece of agarwood that had washed ashore, they presented it to Prince Shotoku, who was looking for wood to create a statue of the Goddess of Mercy. The Prince was delighted with the gift and used the wood to create the statue, which was then enshrined. The village mayor, who had recently returned from Nara, reported that the Prince was so delighted with the gift that he suggested the remaining wood be enshrined in the village. Before long, the villagers constructed the Kareki Shrine to house the remaining wood.
Incense-making Origins
The history of incense on Awaji Island dates back to 1850 when Tatsuzo Tanaka from Ei, Awaji city, discovered the incense manufacturing technique in Senshu Sakai (which belonged to the current prefecture of Osaka). Recognizing the potential of incense, Tatsuzo returned to Ei with a skilled craftsman and began making incense using raw materials such as “powdered cedar leaves” purchased from Awa (which belonged to the current prefecture of Tokushima). Ei was a military-run trade port for the Tokushima Clan at the time, with military buildings and boat houses built around the area.
The Port of Ei was home to over 100 ships and boats engaged in trade between Nagasaki and Hirado in Kyushu and Hyogo and Sakai, giving Ei access to Kyushu markets for most of its products. Raw materials were transported by ships returning from Nagasaki.
The main reasons for the establishment of incense manufacturing on Awaji Island were:
-The climate was suitable;
-Convenient access to raw materials and transportation for the final product;
-Strong seasonal winds that hampered ships leaving the port, leading to the necessity for cottage industries;
-Inexpensive labor available among sailors and the wives of fishermen’s families as a side business during farmers’ slow seasons.
These factors significantly contributed to the expansion of incense-making on Awaji Island.
The history of incense on Awaji Island dates back to 1850 when Tatsuzo Tanaka from Ei, Awaji city, discovered the incense manufacturing technique in Senshu Sakai (which belonged to the current prefecture of Osaka). Recognizing the potential of incense, Tatsuzo returned to Ei with a skilled craftsman and began making incense using raw materials such as “powdered cedar leaves” purchased from Awa (which belonged to the current prefecture of Tokushima). Ei was a military-run trade port for the Tokushima Clan at the time, with military buildings and boat houses built around the area.
The Port of Ei was home to over 100 ships and boats engaged in trade between Nagasaki and Hirado in Kyushu and Hyogo and Sakai, giving Ei access to Kyushu markets for most of its products. Raw materials were transported by ships returning from Nagasaki.
The main reasons for the establishment of incense manufacturing on Awaji Island were:
-The climate was suitable;
-Convenient access to raw materials and transportation for the final product;
-Strong seasonal winds that hampered ships leaving the port, leading to the necessity for cottage industries;
-Inexpensive labor available among sailors and the wives of fishermen’s families as a side business during farmers’ slow seasons.
These factors significantly contributed to the expansion of incense-making on Awaji Island.
The history of incense on Awaji Island dates back to 1850 when Tatsuzo Tanaka from Ei, Awaji city, discovered the incense manufacturing technique in Senshu Sakai (which belonged to the current prefecture of Osaka). Recognizing the potential of incense, Tatsuzo returned to Ei with a skilled craftsman and began making incense using raw materials such as “powdered cedar leaves” purchased from Awa (which belonged to the current prefecture of Tokushima). Ei was a military-run trade port for the Tokushima Clan at the time, with military buildings and boat houses built around the area.
The Port of Ei was home to over 100 ships and boats engaged in trade between Nagasaki and Hirado in Kyushu and Hyogo and Sakai, giving Ei access to Kyushu markets for most of its products. Raw materials were transported by ships returning from Nagasaki.
The main reasons for the establishment of incense manufacturing on Awaji Island were:
-The climate was suitable;
-Convenient access to raw materials and transportation for the final product;
-Strong seasonal winds that hampered ships leaving the port, leading to the necessity for cottage industries;
-Inexpensive labor available among sailors and the wives of fishermen’s families as a side business during farmers’ slow seasons.
These factors significantly contributed to the expansion of incense-making on Awaji Island.