The ancient method of making incense for nearly 20 years has been ingeniously guarding the "Chinese fragrance"-Chinanews.com video

　　[Explanation] Incense ornaments, balm, Yanju incense... In traditional Chinese culture, incense culture has always occupied an important place.

In recent years, traditional fragrances have gradually re-entered the public eye in the form of cultural and creative products.

　　[Explanation] Recently, when I walked into the Jinxiang Museum located in Taishan, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, the faint aroma mixed with the smell of herbs came out, fresh and not sticky.

I saw Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth-generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, taking out different spices from the jar, mixing them, mixing them and grinding... After a while, a sachet of incense sticks was ready.

　　[Explanation] Xing Xiaoxiu's incense production has always followed the "ancestral skills" and used ancient methods to make incense.

His great-grandfather, who was founded by Hu Qingtang Xiangyao in 1858, has been making pain-relieving and relieving incense ointment, and his great-grandfather made incense into small fragrant pills.

Since 2004, she has followed her mother to systematically study traditional aromatherapy knowledge and ancestral aromatherapy.

　　[Same period] Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills

　　I restored Hu Qingtang Xiangyao again in 2017, and founded the original Xiangshe, which is to inherit Hu Qingtang Xiangyao.

Inherited from 1858 to the present, it is mainly to use natural herbs, minerals, flowers, animals, etc., to make a series of such as this kind of skin, A collection of traditional fragrances to wear, imbibe, and drink.

　　[Explanation] Xing Xiaoxiu introduced that with the principle of "aroma nourishing the nose, nourishing the mind and health, and enlightening wisdom", Yuanxiang's traditional incense production includes establishing incense recipes, selecting incense materials, processing incense materials, grinding and sieving, weighing incense and combining. , adding water, blending incense mud, awakening incense, kneading incense mud, polishing and carving, cellaring, and packaging, a total of twelve processes.

　　[Same period] Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills

　　All incense should be cellared for at least half a year, the aroma and effect will be more pronounced, the layering of taste will be richer, the aroma will be more mellow, and the effect on the human body will be more significant.

Before cellaring, it takes about a week to make the finished product. In fact, each step is very critical, and it is linked together. For example, if you do not do well in any step, you will not be able to continue with the next step.

　　[Explanation] In addition to making some traditional incense products, imitating and restoring ancestral incense beads and incense accessories, Xing Xiaoxiu has been constantly seeking innovation in recent years.

　　[Same period] Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills

　　Now it is cooperating with the National Library of China to make the first DIY box in the country.

In addition, in terms of cultural creation, including the series of bird statue sachets made for Shanxi Provincial Museum, we also made some incense paintings last year, which are paintings with traditional decorations smoked after burning natural spices. The combination of olfactory and visual aesthetics produces this contemporary, innovative collection of some of our products.

　　[Explanation] At present, Xing Xiaoxiu has 6 apprentices. In her opinion, apprentices are easy to get, but it is difficult to train a good apprentice.

　　[Same period] Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills

　　First of all, you have to like it, because of this interest, and in terms of various aspects and qualifications, you must have a certain cultural foundation. None of the inherited intangible cultural heritage projects can achieve results very quickly, so you must be patient.

　　[Explanation] As an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage, Xing Xiaoxiu feels that it is a mission to stick to the inheritance of this project.

She believes that the production and application of traditional fragrances have promising prospects.

　　[Same period] Xing Xiaoxiu, the fifth generation inheritor of Yuanxiang's traditional incense making skills

　　In fact, this return is very slow. All traditional cultures are accumulated over a long period of time. After a certain amount of accumulation, we may see a little effect, but we will never give up and stick to our position.

　　Report from Taiyuan, Shanxi

Responsible editor: [Song Fangcan]