Kodo - The Way Of Incense And SerenityKodo, or “The Way of Incense,” is a Japanese traditional art form that ranks among two other classical traditions, namely Sado (the tea ceremony) and Kado (Ikebana, or Japanese flower arrangement). Kodo is not as widespread as the other two mentioned arts, however I have found that many tea ceremony practitioners are also familiar with the art of burning incense. Here you can see a class gathering in a tatami room with the teacher displaying the necessary tools of the art.
These are our high quality incense products from Japan This traditional art dates from the Muromachi era (1336-1573) and originated as an informal game the aristocracy played. It may seem very formalized nowadays, often taking place in tea ceremony rooms and temples while wearing kimono, but it was actually a fun way to pass the time, tell a story, or relieve solitude. Here you can see a group in a traditional tatami room which actually overlooks a beautiful Japanese garden, creating a serene spot to take in these wonderful fragrances. 
During a Kodo ceremony, the incense is not actually burned like you would for a solo meditation or just to add a fragrance to your home. A fragrant wood (Kyara, Rakoku, Sumatora, Manaka, Sasora, and Manaban) is placed on a Mica plate over top coals that release the fragrance very subtly. These six types of incense represent Rikkoku Gomi, or The Five Tastes from Six Countries. Here you can see a monk from Yakushiji Temple in Nara taking in the traditional incense. 
During the ceremony a great deal of attention is placed on the tools as well as the act of burning the incense, similar to the tea ceremony. It has also developed into a game of trying to figure out what fragrance was being burned. Students of this art often take traditional one-on-one lessons with a teacher, but recently group classes have also become more popular and less formal. The two most predominant schools of Kodo are the Shino School and the Orie School. Students also study from manuals and journals such as this one: 
It is said that there are 10 Benefits or Virtues from The Way of Incense: ▪ It helps to communicate with nature and the universe Explore the world of incense for yourself at our webstore. We offer some of the highest quality incense from Japan at very affordable prices!
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