The Depths of Kodo: The Japanese Spirit Residing in Fragrance

by kataokatetsuya October 11, 2025

1. The origins of incense: the fragrance culture introduced along with Buddhism

The origins of incense culture in Japan date back to the third year of the reign of Empress Suiko (595), when a single fragrant tree washed ashore on Awaji Island. The Nihon Shoki records that when the tree washed ashore, the local people were amazed by its fragrance and presented it to the Imperial Court. This event has been passed down to future generations as more than just the discovery of a piece of driftwood; it symbolizes the beginning of incense culture in Japan.

This fragrant wood is called agarwood, and it is a tree of the Thymelaeaceae family native to Southeast Asia that accumulates resin over many years, giving off its fragrant fragrance. Fragrant wood was brought to Japan with the introduction of Buddhism, and began to be used as incense offered before the Buddha. Incense played an important role in religious ceremonies, as it allowed people to sense the invisible and served as a medium connecting gods, Buddhas, and humans.

During the Nara period, incense was burned in temples to purify the space and calm the minds of worshippers. Incense smoke symbolizes the connection between this world and the afterlife, and the act of burning incense itself became an expression of spiritual purification and prayer. Incense became more than just a fragrance; it became deeply rooted in the hearts of the Japanese people as a culture deeply connected to spirituality.

2. Incense in the Heian Period: Aristocratic Aesthetic Sense and Fragrance Culture

During the Heian period, incense went beyond its Buddhist uses and developed in its own way within imperial court culture. Aristocrats mixed fragrant woods, burned them on clothing, and let the scent fill the air, expressing their individuality and sophistication. Incense, along with waka poetry and stories, enriched people's sensibilities as a means of conveying subtle emotions and seasonal changes that cannot be captured by sight or hearing.

Incense blending was not merely a hobby, but was valued as a form of culture. The type of incense, blending techniques, and the expressiveness of fragrance were important elements that defined a person's character in aristocratic society, and the ability to distinguish between scents was also an indicator of one's sensitivity and intelligence. During the reign of Emperor Ninmyo, the "Gokosho" (Incense Hall) was established in the Imperial Palace, and the blending and management of incense was institutionalized. This shows that incense was recognized as a national cultural asset.

Furthermore, incense is often depicted in literary works such as The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book. Characters express their feelings through scent, and there are many scenes in which scent functions as a plot twist or symbol. Incense has a deep connection with literature as a "silent language" that conveys feelings that cannot be put into words.

3. The art of incense in the Muromachi period: an art form as a samurai's spiritual training

During the Muromachi period, incense began to take on a new meaning in samurai society. Within the Higashiyama culture centered around Ashikaga Yoshimasa, incense was positioned as an art form for spiritual cultivation, on a par with the tea ceremony and linked poetry. "Listening" to incense was not simply an olfactory experience, but an act of calming the mind and facing oneself, and the art of incense became an important means of cultivation for samurai who valued spirituality.

During this period, the "Shino School," systematized by Shino Munenobu, established the prototype of the art of incense, centered on the appreciation of fragrant wood. In the art of incense, the act of "listening" to the scent is expressed as not simply smelling it, but rather signifying the deeply spiritual act of listening to the scent and receiving it with one's heart. The series of actions from placing silver leaves in the ashes of the incense burner to burning the fragrant wood is serene yet filled with tension, exuding a solemnity reminiscent of Zen training.

The art of incense is also a dialogue with nature. Each fragrant wood has its own unique scent, which changes subtly depending on the place of origin, age of the tree, and resin content. Those who listen to the scent can sense these differences and contemplate the workings of nature and the flow of time that lie behind the scent. The art of incense is also an art form that allows us to reexamine the relationship between nature and humans.

4. The spread of incense in Edo: townspeople's culture and incense education

During the Edo period, the art of incense began to spread beyond the samurai class to include townspeople. As the economy developed and culture diversified, the art of incense became popular among women as a form of culture. The designs of incense implements became more ornate, and incense boxes and burners decorated with maki-e and raden designs were created, increasing their value as art and crafts.

During this period, incense gatherings called "kumiko," which included a playful element, were popular. Kumiko is an intellectual game in which participants listen to and distinguish between multiple fragrant woods, memorize their scents, and then try to identify which incense is which. This was not merely entertainment, but also a form of training to cultivate memory, sensitivity, and concentration. It was a culture that combined the spiritual and playful aspects of the art of incense.

During the Edo period, the art of incense became an integral part of townspeople's lives, and the custom of enjoying incense in everyday life took root. Incense became a part of people's lives, adding color and richness to them, such as burning incense at the change of seasons and using it to entertain guests. Incense became widely loved as a medium for cultivating an aesthetic sense in everyday life.

5. Modern Kodo: Richness in Silence

With the influx of Western culture after the Meiji period, the art of incense showed signs of temporary decline. However, it has quietly been passed down without losing its essence. In modern times, the rarity of fragrant woods and the artistic value of incense-making implements are being reevaluated, and the spiritual enrichment that incense-making brings is also attracting attention.

Modern people seek inner tranquility in a day-to-day life overflowing with information and stimuli. In this modern world, the art of incense is once again in the spotlight as a culture that encourages introspection and the cultivation of sensitivity. The act of listening to incense speaks to the depths of the soul through the sense of smell, one of the five senses. Fragrances are easily linked to memories, and the moment you smell a certain scent, memories from the past can suddenly come flooding back. The scent of sandalwood you smelled on the veranda of your grandmother's house on a summer evening as a child. Or the lingering scent of agarwood burning at a temple you visited. Fragrances transcend time, awakening memories and gently stirring emotions that lie dormant deep within the heart.

Modern kōdō (incense appreciation) values the power of scent as a key to unlocking memories. Listening to incense is an act of facing one's inner self, taking a step back from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and placing oneself in silence. There, time flows differently from that of modern society, which pursues efficiency and results. The silence while the incense rises, the careful movements toward the incense burner, the moment of concentration while listening to the scent—all of these are rituals for calming the mind and training to sharpen one's senses.

Furthermore, Kodo is finding new value in modern lifestyles. As concepts such as aromatherapy and mindfulness gain attention, Kodo is attracting attention both from within Japan and overseas as a uniquely Japanese "spiritual culture through scent." Kodo classes and experience sessions are being held all over the country, providing more opportunities for young people and visitors from overseas to experience the art of Kodo.

The fragrant woods used in the art of incense are now extremely valuable. In particular, agarwood and aloeswood, which are produced in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia, are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain due to changes in the natural environment and overharvesting. As a result, the value of a single piece of incense has increased, and in the world of incense, it is said to be worth "a thousand gold pieces." This means that the burning of a single stick of incense is worth more than gold, and symbolizes the preciousness of incense in the art of incense.

Incense tools also have value as works of art. Incense burners, incense chopsticks, silver leaf holders, incense containers, and more are all painstakingly crafted by artisans, and their designs and materials reflect the aesthetic sense of each era. Incense tools from the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods in particular are lavishly decorated with traditional techniques such as lacquerware, pottery, and metalwork, and are highly valued by museums and collectors even today.

6. The future of kōdō – inheriting sensibilities and creating new ones

Although the art of incense has a history of over a thousand years, it has never been confined to the relics of the past, but has continued to live on, changing its form with the times. Even today, new possibilities for expression are being explored, such as through the fusion of incense with modern art and design, collaboration with modern architecture and spatial presentations, as well as through the inheritance of traditional schools.

For example, contemporary kodo artists are creating installations and performances that use scent, proposing kodo as a comprehensive art form that combines the visual and auditory senses. In addition, modern poetry, essays, and photography themed around scent have appeared, and kodo is being reinterpreted in new contexts.

On the other hand, the spirit of "listening to silence" that underlies the art of kōdō remains a timeless value, no matter the era. In today's information-saturated world, kōdō teaches us the richness of "time spent doing nothing." Listening to incense is an act of self-reflection, harmony with nature, and dialogue with history, which can truly be called the "art of living."

Conclusion: To listen to the scent is to listen to the heart

The art of incense is a way of communicating with oneself, nature, and history through the scent of fragrant wood. The spirituality contained in a single stick of incense continues to speak to our hearts even today, transcending the time of a thousand years.

To listen to incense is to listen to the heart. Fragrance is a door to perceiving the invisible, and within it lies a profound world that transcends words. The art of incense teaches us the richness that lies in silence. In the midst of our busy daily lives, taking a moment to stop and listen to the aroma can be an irreplaceable source of comfort for those of us living in the modern world.

Entering the world of kodo is not simply a study of classical culture. It is a journey into the essence of Japanese culture, sharpening one's senses and listening to the invisible. Through the spirituality embodied in fragrance, we can reconnect nature and people, people and people, and the past and present.

The art of incense continues to awaken our inner serenity and cultivate a deep sense of beauty and harmony. To walk the path of incense is to walk the path of the heart.