The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents [Paperback]

Kiyoko Morita (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2007

Incense has a long history in Japan. At the ancient court, men and women alike scented their kimono, their rooms, and even their writing paper with signature blends of incense that admirers were sure to mention later in their love poems. Even today, Japanese incense is highly regarded for its subtlety and beauty. The Book of Incense is the first book available in English that focuses on the incense traditions of Japan including different ingredients, mixing blends and sampling various mixtures, traditional literary games involving incense Koh-do, the incense ceremony still performed today.

With the current popularity of aromatherapy and other uses of scent for relaxation and pleasure, this new trade paperback edition of The Book of Incense comes at a most opportune time. It is must reading for anyone who wants to gain a new awareness of the importance of scent, and learn how to make optimal use of the sense of smell in our everyday lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews

"Opens up a fascinating dimension to the uses and pleasures of the sense of smell which is archetypally and uniquely Japanese."
—Aromatherapy Quarterly

"Gently unravels the mystique of kodo, the esoteric Japanese art form centering on incense, and brings it up to date."
—The Daily Yomiuri

"Beautifully written introduction to the aesthetic practice of kodo."
—City Life News

About the Author

Kiyoko Morita was born in Hokkaido, Japan, and currently lives in Massachusetts, where she is a lecturer in Japanese at Tufts University and a Ph. D candidate in Educational Studies at Lesley College. Ms. Morita is also an Associate in Research at the Reischauer Institute of Harvard University and a founding member of the Boston Shino Incense Study Group.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Kodansha USA (February 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 4770030509
• ISBN-13: 978-4770030504
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #139,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for Japanese incense lovers, November 12, 1999

By 

Francis Shen (Boulder, CO, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents (Paperback)

After using incense for many years I found Japanese incense is the best among all. They only use herbs, spice and wood without any sythetic materials. The scents are very subtle and pleasing.

This book takes you through the history of Japanese incense. Your find that the most comment joss stick incense only has one houndred year history. Before then, Japanese burn woodchips, kneaded incense and granulated incense. From this, the book of incense takes you to a wonderful world of koh-do, incense ceremony.

Maybe you have heard of tea ceremony before. Incense ceremony is even more poetic, elegant and fun. This book explain how the ceremony is set up with pictures of beautiful utensils and instruments.

If you are a incense lover and want to experience a higher level of enjoying incense, the book of incense is a must read.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book of Incense, August 18, 2003

By 

David P Oller (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents (Paperback)

This book is primarily on Japanese incense and the Japanese Incense Ceremony, it is not about incense in general and especially about "making incense."

There are really only two books in English on the subject, and I find promotions of other incense books not related to this subject personally objectionable and innapropriate.

The presentation is wonderful, and it is an excellent treatment of the subject for the English speaking reader. It should be of particular interest to those interested in the Japanese Incense ceremony.

Ms. Kiyoko Morita takes the reader on a wonderful tour of the history of the "Incense Culture" in Japan. She takes the complex and extensive subject of Kodo (The Way of Incense) and skilfully organizes the most important areas.

You may not master the art of kodo from reading this book, but all the information is there to learn how to enjoy incense prepared kodo style, as well as how to give an incense party, and begin understanding the associated culture.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kudos to Morita, December 26, 2003

By 

Tom Gregory (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents (Paperback)

I recently found a hardback copy of this book and what a difference. I loved the paperback, but having the photos in color was a great improvement. Now I have a much better idea what the ingredients used in Japanese incense really look like.

I am sooooo! grateful to Kiyoko Morita for introducing me to Japanese incense. I had so many misconceptions about Japanese incense prior to reading this book. I always thought it was expensive, but I found out when you do the math it's really cheaper than most Joss stick type incense.

Recently I have started trying the Kodo method of burning pure aloes wood, and having my friends come over to play the incense games. It wasn't as difficult as I had been led to believe.

If you haven't read this book and you love aromatic things then you are in for a real treat. Do yourself a favor and don't miss the experience.