( zh, c=敬香, tr=offering incense with respect), (), (), is a ritual of offering
incense
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
accompanied by tea and or fruits in
Chinese traditional religion
Chinese folk religion comprises a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. This includes the veneration of '' shen'' ('spirits') and ancestors, and worship devoted to deities and immortals, w ...
. In
ancestral religious worship it is called or . It is observed by a devotee holding joss incense with both hands in front of an altar during the worship. For greater reverence or devotion, the devotee will kneel and bow before the altar during and after placing the incense inside the urn at the altar.
Jiangxiang is practiced in diffused Chinese folk religion and also by adherents belonging to the schools of
Taoism
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
,
Chinese Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism or Han Buddhism ( zh, s=汉传佛教, t=漢傳佛教, first=t, poj=Hàn-thoân Hu̍t-kàu, j=Hon3 Cyun4 Fat6 Gaau3, p=Hànchuán Fójiào) is a Chinese form of Mahayana Buddhism. The Chinese Buddhist canonJiang Wu, "The Chin ...
and
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...
. It is highly essential when conducting general prayer to one of the
Deities, paying respect to a deceased ancestor as part of the daily devotions in
Chinese ancestor veneration, or celebrating the
Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day in English (sometimes also called Chinese Memorial Day, Ancestors' Day, the Clear Brightness Festival, or the Pure Brightness Festival), is a traditional Chines ...
,
Zhong Yuan Festival and
Chongyang Festival.
Number and meanings of incense
The number of joss stick varies, usually three or five, or less commonly, nine. The ancient Chinese consider that even numbers are associated with ''
yin'', and odd numbers are associated with ''
yang''. Because ''yang'' represents positive and auspicious things, odd numbers like three, five and nine are preferred in many rituals.
Sandalwood joss
The scent of the joss sticks is believed to calm the human spirit and good for health because the key ingredients of joss sticks are made up of various herbs. The same effect is believed to affect the spirit of a deceased ancestor. In this connection it also serves as a prayer to the deity that an adherent is worshipping. It is also considered a form of spiritual nourishment to the spirits in
Taoism
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
and
Chinese folk religion
Chinese folk religion comprises a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. This includes the veneration of ''Shen (Chinese folk religion), shen'' ('spirits') and Chinese ancestor worship, ances ...
.
Other offerings
Usually jingxiang is done with an offering of Chinese tea, in a number corresponding to the gods, typically three cups. Fruits and various offerings are generally presented when conducting Jingxiang, however the specification differs for different temples or deities.
See also
*
Chinese folk religion
Chinese folk religion comprises a range of traditional religious practices of Han Chinese, including the Chinese diaspora. This includes the veneration of ''Shen (Chinese folk religion), shen'' ('spirits') and Chinese ancestor worship, ances ...
*
Chinese ancestral worship
Chinese ancestor veneration, also called Chinese ancestor worship, is an aspect of the Chinese folk religion, Chinese traditional religion which revolves around the ritual celebration of the deification, deified ancestors and tutelary deities ...
*
Chinese Buddhism
Chinese Buddhism or Han Buddhism ( zh, s=汉传佛教, t=漢傳佛教, first=t, poj=Hàn-thoân Hu̍t-kàu, j=Hon3 Cyun4 Fat6 Gaau3, p=Hànchuán Fójiào) is a Chinese form of Mahayana Buddhism. The Chinese Buddhist canonJiang Wu, "The Chin ...
*
Chinese ritual mastery traditions
*
Taoism
Taoism or Daoism (, ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China, emphasizing harmony with the Tao ( zh, p=dào, w=tao4). With a range of meaning in Chinese philosophy, translations of Tao include 'way', 'road', ' ...
*
Chinese temples
*
Ancestral shrine
An ancestral shrine, hall or temple ( or , ; Chữ Hán: ; ), also called lineage temple, is a temple dedicated to deified ancestors and progenitors of surname lineages or families in the Chinese tradition. Ancestral temples are closely li ...
&
Ancestral tablets
*
Fenxiang ()
*
Fulu ()
*
Jiaobei ()
*
Kau Cim ()
*
Miaohui
Miaohui ( zh, t=廟會, s=庙会, l=temple gatherings, tr=temple fairs), also called , are China, Chinese religion, religious gatherings held by Miao shrines for the worship of the Chinese folk religion, Chinese gods and immortals. Large-scale ...
()
*
Zhizha ()
External links
Baishen from Daoist Information CentreMaking of Joss Sticks - INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Taoist practices
Chinese culture
Practices in Chinese folk religion
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