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| Taking you to the wonderful world of Incense. |
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Column#4 : Kohboku - fragrant wood
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The fragrant wood that is used in the Koh-Do ceremony
is called Jinkoh (Aloeswood). It is a particularly
valuable quality wood among Kohboku. The ultimate
Koh ceremony is to appreciate the subtle differences
of Jinkoh fragrances. The classificatory criterion
of Kohboku which constitutes the basics of appreciating
Koh is called Rikkoku-Gomi. This refers
to the six ancient East Asian countries where
kohboku woods are from and the five elements used
to describe their flavors. The names of countries
(Kyara, Rakoku, Manaka, Manaban,
Sumotara, Sasora) all represent
a qualitative classification of kohboku wood,
and five terms (hot, sweet, sour,
bitter, salty) are used to describe
different essences. A piece of kohboku wood could
generate more than one fragrances when it is burned.
Kohboku pieces often have a mixture of multiple
fragrances, generating an indescribable blend,
depending on the proportion and strength of each
essence contained in a piece of wood. We need
to be able to distinguish the differences in each
Kohboku in order to really appreciate Koh. To
learn the differences, we need to sense each Kohboku
repeatedly, which is referred to as "practical
learning method". The other way to learn is to
analyze each fragrance into each of the five elements,
hot, sweet, sour, bitter and salty. This analytical
method is called Gomisetsu.
In the seventeenth century, when Gomisetsu was
established, six kinds of Jinkoh were described
as follows. |
| Sasora |
| The fragrance is cool
and astringent. Higher grades gives off
a fragrance like Kyara in the beginning.
And it spontaneously gets lighter, then
moves into lingering scent. It is said
to be a upright holy man. |
| Sumotora |
| A graceful, but spontaneous
fragrance with a scent of a sandalwood.
Usually it is manifested with tartness.
Just like a merchant in his best attire. |
| Kyara |
| Tender and classy. Considered
to be a higher grade when it contained
bitterness. Graceful by itself with a
hot flavor. Sour and salty flavors are
also present. It is elegant with an air
of nobility. |
| Manaban |
| Generates sweet aroma
more often than not. The oil left on mica
plate (or Ginyo plate, a plate to place
kohboku when it is burnt ) is an evidence
of Manaban, though it may not be conclusive. |
| Manaka |
| The flavor is light and
lustrous. Higher grades with a lighter
scent. The flavor is precarious. It is
said to be a jealous woman with a grudge. |
| Rakoku |
| A piquant bouquet appears
at the beginning and lingers afterward.
Very much like Kyara, but more modest.
It is just as if a lowly samurai dressed
in noble. |
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