Why people always offer incense in odd numbers?
Today, offering incense is a regular habit of families in Vietnam and many countries in the world. Incense is used to worship Buddha gods or to pay homage to ancestors. However, a lot of people wonder each time how many incense stick they should offer. So how to burn a proper quantity of incense?
Incense offering history in the world
According to historical records, the burning of incense originated from about 3700 BC (ie about 5700 years ago), from India. It was not until 618 AD that in the Qin dynasty, there was a Buddhist Monk who brought Agarwood/Oud incense sticks to China, from which the form of incense burning was developed most strongly and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, after that was popularized to all around neighbor countries.
Arguably the most popular form of incense burning was in Japan. Here they make more ways to burn incense. The most familiar product is the Agarwood/Oud cone with spike top in the 17th century, still in use today.
Many documents show that incense burning has existed since the early days. In the temples of the ancient Egyptian king there were many drawings or carvings on the wall depicting this rite.
Each burned incense stick is a message of the world to be sent to heaven, ancestors, grandparents, it also makes family atmosphere to be warm, family hearts feel more serene.
Usually, people burn incense to earnestly bow their heads of sincere respect for their devotion to the aromatic clouds of smoke towards the sacred realm or ascend to the throne of God. The prayer of the person who offer the incense blends into the smoke of incense transmitted to the hearer. Gods then would feel the wish of prayers.
Why people always offer incense in odd number?
When Vietnamese burn incense, they often choose odd numbers like 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or maybe they burn a bunch of incense and not burn incense in even numbers like 2, 4, 6, 8. According to reasons of feng shui rules, odd numbers 1, 3, 5 … have many lucky meanings because odd numbers are positive numbers that bring good luck and even numbers are negative numbers with bad luck.
In the morning, people often burn an incense stick on Fortune, Land god’s altars. Number 1 is a positive number – repersent for the person who devotely pray from their hearts, asking the gods to bless safe and lucky. So Number 1 shows the sincere heart of the litman and the desire from his heart to offer to Gods, Buddhas, Ancestors.
The meaning of odd incense sticks burning
In Feng Shui, number 3 is the statue of the three realms: Heaven, Earth, Human. Therefore, when doing important things in life, people often burn 3 incense sticks on the altar and say special prayers.
And 5 of the incense sticks mean 5 directions of heaven and earth, 5 directions of gods. According to feng shui, the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, earth. Numbers 7 and 9 are symbolized by the number of people’s spirit when people want to ask for personal favor.
That’s why when at temples, we only need to burn one incense stick. That only incense stick is called spiritual incense. Although with only one incense stick, the spiritual incense owns many symbolic meanings.
In fact, each burned incense hides deep in it aspirations of the person that their wishes could reach to their God or ancestors. Burning incense though just a small act but has the effect of calming the human soul and gives them a sense of peace.
SO 9001: 2015 certificated Agarwood (Oud) products, commit to production in accordance of Standard basic announced
On 08.05.2019, Hoang Giang Agarwood Co., Ltd has received an official copy of ISO 9001: 2015 certificate of Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality of AQS GLOBAL on product quality management, worldwide recognized for Agarwood (Oud) production and trading.
The ISO 9001: 2015 certificate of Hoang Giang Agarwood is valid for 3 years until April 25, 2022 and is periodically monitored and evaluated to ensure that Hoang Giang’s Agarwood (Oud) product quality always meets the standard certified.
ISO 9001: 2015 certificate assessed by a prestigious international organization is a safe quality assurance for all Agarwood (Oud) products of Hoang Giang, thereby helping customers and partners to feel secure when choosing and believing in Hoang Giang Agarwood (Oud) product in particular as well as Hoang Giang company in general.
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HOANG GIANG AGARWOOD CO., LTD.
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