Fragrance culture

Burning incense was for centuries part of daily life in ancient China. Intellectuals and people in higher society enjoyed the smell of incense as an important addition to their lifestyle, and a way to connect with the celestial world. Women of well-to-do households appreciated the aroma to enrich the time spent in the confinement of their homes. Ordinary families who could afford this type of leisure wished for peace and a well-off life. Fragrant Way, Aromatic Ware, an ongoing exhibition at the heritage and scenic area of Grand Bao'en Temple in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, pays tribute to this culture of fragrance by displaying incense, containers and tools made of different materials and spanning dynasties. All from a private collection, the exhibits include a pointed-bottom glass bottle from the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC), one of the earliest. A mountain-shaped Boshan incense burner, a well-known type, chiefly produced in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), is also on show. Ceramic wares on show are from some of the most prestigious kilns in Chinese history, such as the Ge, Guan, Jun and Longquan. Through these objects, people are ushered into the material and spiritual worlds of ancient Chinese. The exhibition runs through Aug 30.

9 am-5 pm, daily. 1 Yuhua Road, Qinhuai district, Nanjing, Jiangsu province. 025-5200-9999.