Introduction on the Incense's Physical Outlook (線香外型之簡介)

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Many People have been using Incenses for Life-time, but never ever understand why an Incense look like an Incense.

Many People have been also wondering why a Normal & Good Incense measure at 13 inches Long, Incense's Body measure at 9 inches Long & the Red Incense's Leg stands at 4 inches Tall.

In here, Jave Wu will like to share with ALL of you on the Physical Outlook & its Meaning of an Good Quality Incense (made according to the Ancient Taoist Measurement).

An Incense represent the Big Dao aka Overall Universe (大道). By using a Good Incense, Manufacturing a High Grade Incense, actually Oneself is showing the Highest Respect to Big Dao and also ALL Deities that we have in Taoism. In the Theory of Incense-making, this is known as Yi Qi aka The Greatness Null (一炁).

By using Fire to Light the Incense while Honouring Big Dao & Deities, this represent Yang aka Positive Element & the Fume that being emitted out by the Incenses are known as Yin aka Yin Element (陰陽). By doing so, Oneself will be able to Transmit One's Message to the Big Dao & Deities using the Balancing of Yin & Yang Elements. And so, the Incenses will give out their Best & Most Upright Energies to act as a Media for the Communication between Beings & Heavenly Beings. In the Theory of Incense-making, this is known as Liang Yi aka The Yin & Yang (兩儀).

By using Three Incenses to do the Honouring, we are Showing the Highest Respect to San Qing aka The Three Pure Ones (三清道祖) and also, ALL the Brightness Objects that we Mortals can see in this Mortal Realm. Besides that, we are able also requesting for the Best Positive Connection from the Big Dao, so in the Theory of Incense-making, this is known as San Guang aka The Three Brightness (三光) or San Cai aka The Three Brilliants One (三才).

The Measurement of the Red Incense Leg is fix at 4 inches, this is to represent the Transformation or Manifestation of the Yin & Yang, in Taoist Theory, it is known as Si Xiang aka The Four Phenomenons (四象). These Four Phenomenons represent the Changes in Seasons, in Weather, in Directions & also, in our Physical Bodies.



After Lighting a Good Incense, the Incense will also Manifest Itself into the Element Natural Elements, which in Chinese known as Wu Xing (五行). From where can we know of the Wu Xing? From the following:

1) Wood aka Mu (木), the Internal Support-pillar of the Incense
2) Earth/Soil aka Tu (土), the Clay-mixture of the Incense-wood Powder & Natural-gule Substance for make the Outer-shell of the Incense
3) Fire aka Huo (火), the Lighting of the Incense usualy Fire
4) Water aka Shui (水), the Fume that given out by the Lighted Incense or the Inner-part of the Incense that got a Darker-shade (not easy to see this Nowadays)
5) Metal/Gold aka Jin (金), the Gold Paint that being Dotted on the Red-Incense Leg or the Material used for containing the Incenses aka Urn (香爐)



Inside the Incense's Outer-shell, actually there are a few Hidden Secrets too. For the Internal Support-pillar, actually it got 2 different Shapes, a Cylinder Shape (圓筒形) & a Square Shape (四方形). These 2 Shapes are made to represent Tian Yuan Di Fang (天圓地方), meaning Heaven is Round & Earth is Square. 7 inches as Odd Number represent Positive, so it is made into the Cyclinder Form and 6 inches as Even Number represent Negative, so it is made into Square Form.

For the Cyclinder Shape, it stands at 7 inches & for the Square Shape, it stands at 6 inches. For the Square Shape, actually it is located at the Lower part of the Support-pillar (use to dye into Red-color for the Incense Leg) and the Cyclinder Shape is actually the form used to make the Outer-shell's Form (so the Incense will look Smooth & Rounded).

The 6 inches (4 inches outside for the Leg & 2 inches hidden inside the Outer-shell of the Incense) represent Liu Yao aka The Result of Predictions & Changes (六爻). Liu Yao can commonly be Seen in Trigrams or Yi Jing aka Book of Change. These Yao are used to do Predictions & See Changes in the Surrounding & the whole Big Dao. By putting the Liu Yao onto the Incense Leg, it is actually Telling us to be Firm & Stable and with One's Determination, Successful can be Achieved.

The 7 inches represent Qi Zheng aka The Seven Natural Planets (七政) or Qi Yao (七曜). The Seven Planets are Sun (太陽), Moon (月亮), Venus (金星), Mars (火星), Mercury (水星), Saturn (土星) & Jupiter (木星). These are the Seven Planets (in Chinese known as Stars) that are Closely Connected with the Luck of a Mortal/Being. By Honouring them, Oneself will be able to stay Connected with them in-order to Eliminate the Un-necessary Obstacles & Negative Issues.

The 4 inches Red Incense Leg and the Square Shape (Four Corners), actually Represent Ba Gua aka Trigram (八卦). By Placing the Significate of Ba Gua at the Lower part of the Incense actually to Represent Stable & also Act as a Firm Base. Xian Tian Ba Gua aka Pre-Heavenly-Formed Ba Gua is already born with Oneself (located at the Front of the Chest) and by Requesting & Stay Connected with the Hou Tian Ba Gua aka Post-Heavenly-Formed Ba Gua (in this Instance, the Red-Incense Leg), Oneself will be able to Balance the Natural Energies that being Bestowed upon Oneself. Hou Tian Ba Gua is Commonly-known as Yong aka Using (後天為用), if Oneself is able to Understand how the Ba Gua works and by directing the Energies into One's Daily Life, then Oneself will be able to Break-thru the Miracle and attain a High Level Cultivation.

Last, the Jiu Tian aka The Nine Heavens (九天), this is represented by the Measurement of the 9 inches of the Outer-shell of the Incenses. Jiu Tian, inclusive of 4 Levels at each Tian, in Total, we have 36 Levels of Heavens. By using the Incenses as a Media to communicate with Big Dao & Deities and by using the Correct Method of Communication (reciting of the Offering Incense Mantra 祝香神咒), Oneself will be able to get Connected with Big Dao & Deities.



Overall, a Good Incense that made according to the Ancient Taoist Measurement will represent the Following Nine Major Elements:
Yi Qi 一炁
Liang Yi 兩儀
San Guang/San Cai 三光/三才
Si Xiang 四象
Wu Xing 五行
Liu Yao 六爻
Qi Zheng/Qi Yao 七政/七曜
Ba Gua 八卦
Jiu Tian 九天

So in the Future, when Oneself uses Incenses, Oneself will be able to relate on the Nine Major Elements that are Closely Connected with Big Dao.

References:

Ninth Heaven Incense (九天降聖香):

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2011/05/the-ninth-heaven-incense-formation_3560.html

Intro on Offering Incense Incantation (上香及祝香神咒簡介):

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2007/05/offering-of-incenses-to-deities_3666.html

Intro on Physical Body's Xian Tian Ba Gua (護身先天八卦):

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2008/05/pre-heavenly-ba-gua-in-one-body.html

Intro on Taoist 36 Heavens (道教三十六天簡介):

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2009/05/the-36-heavens-in-taoism-context.html

Intro on the Origin of Incenses (香支的由來):

http://javewutaoismplace.blogspot.sg/2009/05/intro-on-incenses-aka-josssticks.html

For High Res Pics, please proceed to this link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taoism_deity_singapore_2007/photos/album/1617728829/pic/list