 History of Kodo
The History of Kodo
 The art
of incense burning has been perfected over many centuries in Japan.
Kodo,
the modern incense ceremony, is perhaps the ultimate incense experience. It
dates back to the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Kodo became known as "The Art of
Incense," and was based on the prior tea ceremony and incense contests of
the time and greatly influenced by Zen
Buddhism.
Soradaki
Soradaki
means "burning for pleasure." Before incense sticks were popular in Japan,
incense was burned over charcoal buried in ash. Sometimes kneaded incense called
Awaseko
was used, and other times resinous woods like sandalwood and aloeswood were
heated instead.
Kodo
Kodo is a variation of
Soradaki
where a
mica plate is placed on top of ash above a buried charcoal, and the incense
woods are heated at a lower temperature. Kodo is a smokeless way of enjoying
incense.
Today Kodo groups and individuals around the world are beginning to learn and
respect this ancient Japanese tradition and eloquent expression of an aromatic
art.
Prior to
Kodo becoming a formal ceremony there were the Incense Contests of the 11th
century where compounds of kneaded incense called
Awaseko
were
used. Later, informal games called
Koh Awase
were
played in Japanese homes. Lady Murasaki Shikibu in her epic novel, "The Tale of
Genji," writes about incense and incense making contests by the nobles of the
Heian courts. It was from these games Kodo takes its true origination.
Modern
Kodo is based on these earlier informal incense contests and games. It is said
The Shogun Yoshimasa Ashikaga (1443-1490) asked his trusted advisor, Sanetaka
Sanjonishi (a scholar and poet), to evaluate and classify all of the incense they used
and devise several games and rules for parties to appreciate and "listen" to
incense. Later, incense schools were set up to pass down this art.
From the early incense
contests mentioned in "The Tale of Gengi," we go to the naming of the six
varieties, or aromas of aloeswood, called the Rikkoku. This occurred sometime
later, perhaps even as late as the Edo period, and may have been devised by the
Kodo genius Yonekawa Johaku. This
is not
for certain according to Japanese expert, Professor Jinpo. Rikkoku literally
means "Six Countries."
Today
there are two main schools remaining in Japan. They are the Oiye-ryu and
Shino-ryu schools. The Shino school is in the tradition of the Samurai and
Soushin Shino, and the Oiye school in the tradition of the poet Sanetaka
Sanjonishi.
We
consider it a great honor to present this fine art to our friends and neighbors
in North America and invite you to join us at one of our sponsored Kodo
Appreciation Parties where Kodo is demonstrated and its incense games played.
*Written
by David Oller of Japanese-Incense.com, Edited by Incense-Making.com™.
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