We are moving quickly into the Cherry Blossom season in Japan. This in terms of incense is a time when Jinko (aloeswood) takes on less importance and Byakudan (sandalwood) takes on more importance.

Tea masters will begin burning sandalwood chips instead of the heavier neriko incense.

Your own preferences in aromas will move to the lighter florals and sandalwoods, although aloeswood is still nice in the evening hours.

I thought I would post a little video I took in Japan some years ago.

Tips from the Masters at Baieido

Mica plates are placed over the vent and buried charcoal. One of their benefits is they distribute the heat evenly across the surface of the incense wood. If the wood smokes the fire is too hot. The proper method is to warm the wood just enough to release the aroma without burning the wood.

Often oil will ooze from the wood and stick to the mica plate. Cleaning this residue and restoring the plate to a reusable condition is very easy. Brew some fresh green tea and use the leaves to rub the plate and remove any resin. There is something in the leaves that dissolves the resin. I couldn't say what but it works.

White Ash

Recently our sales of white ash have been sky-rocketing and so I would like to take a moment for a few words on the subject.

Our white ash is made from pure bamboo and contains no additives, silicone, or fibers. This is important for kodo presentations and incense games because the ash and charcoal must be pure and non odiferous.

In addition to the incense ceremony there are many other uses for this ash. It can be used in a cup to hold incense sticks (senko) upright. This is the method used by most Zendo's as with this method you don't have to empty out the stick ashes and remainder of the incense stick each time you burn a stick of incense.

Another use is in incense burners (koro's) covered or uncovered where you bury a piece of charcoal and burn incense materials on top of the ash.

Ash is re-usable!

When your cup or koro begins to clutter with un-burned ends or pieces of material or charcoal it can be completely restored by 1. Sifting out the debris, and 2. Placing ash in an oven-safe container and baking in the oven at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. This will remove any residual aromas and your ash will be as good as new.

David Oller 

Before my friend Silvio Bedini passed on he wrote two exclusive articles for me to publish on the Japanese Incense website. He also sent me several photographs of Incense Clocks. Although I still encourage you to look at the illustrations and photos on our website, and to buy his book: The Trail of Time -- Silvio Bedini I am going to publish some of those photos here.

Feedback, Comments, and Questions

I would like to make readers aware that I have not found a way to easily access feedback, comments and questions, posted on the Blog. I do check for comments after I post an article, but not the articles in the archives.

We do have a Baieido page on Facebook and it is much easier to dialog in that format, so please consider joining that group if you have questions etc.

You will also find we post more notices there, and if an article is posted here it will show up there as well.

I am also happy to speak with you on the phone and we have a toll free number for your convenience.

1-877-552-1328

Thanks

David Oller