Date of Defense
4-2002
Department
Comparative Religion
First Advisor
Dr. Scott Dykstra
Second Advisor
Joel Mort-Braun
Abstract
Since its introduction in the sixth century, incense has played an important part in Japanese cultural and religious traditions. Incense is a significant element in the rituals of Buddhism; its creation is the result of traditional techniques and skillful artistry; its presence is essential in many aesthetic traditions, including Noh theater, the tea ceremony known to the Japanese as Cha-no-yu, and the calligraphic art form known as Sho; and its importance in the greater aesthetic culture has brought about the invention of Koh-do, a tradition dedicated completely to the use- of incense for appreciation and for increasing one's mental and spiritual clarity. From the first time the fragrant wood was burned in Japan until the present, incense has had an enormous impact on the Japanese religious and cultural landscape.
Recommended Citation
Griebel, Victoria, "Smoke Signals: The Significance of Incense in Japanese Culture and Buddhist Ritual" (2002). Honors Theses. 1976.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/1976
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Campus Only