香之為物：進香儀式中香火觀念的物質基礎

Scent as Substance:The Material basis of Chinese Incense-Fire Rituals and Concepts

本文說明漢人的祭祀行為無論是向神明、祖先或是鬼怪，都可以用「香」，也都少不了香。舉香祭拜幾乎成為漢人宗教信化的特色。香於漢唐之際從西域和南洋傳入中國，逐漸在原有的佛教用香文化之上，發展出中國文化獨特的「香火」觀感與象徵。期間，中國合香的製作也深受中藥複方藥劑的調配觀念影響而獨具特色。長久以來，香已經深入漢入民間信化的各個層面，不但開發出有關於香的豐富民俗信化詞＊，香灰與香爐也成為神聖的結晶與器物而受到信徒的珍惜與膜拜。

Incense sticks are used by Chinese people to worship gods，ghosts and ancestors，and this has become a unique trait of Chinese religious behavior. Incense may be made from a variety of materials. Among them，sandal wood，agalwood，aloe wood，and many others were introduced to China from India through Central Asia by land and from South Eas Asia by sea around 200 A.D. Chinese people gradually developed their own favorite scents and ingredients over the centuries.