A feast for your senses

"Agarwood was first used in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220)," Huang says.

The use of incense peaked during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Burning incense became a popular hobby among scholars.

The most common ways to burn incense are coils and sticks that just need to be lit. But people usually put agarwood on a plate and set the plate above a charcoal fire.

"Agarwood is very expensive, so people can't afford to light the agarwood directly," Huang explains.

At the show, people can also see incense tools used by members of the Chinese court. Among the incense tools, 48 are in the collection of the Palace Museum.

"Incense tools form a major part of traditional Chinese culture. You can see the religious culture, the handicrafts and the aesthetics embodied in these tools," Huang says.

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