Getting Closer to the Buddha

Buddhist practitioners light and burn incense sticks. They raise the burning sticks above the head and bow to the statues of Buddha. Then they place their sticks vertically on burners from which smoke wafts.

Worshippers do so in a hope to talk to the Buddha who will appear in the smoke. This is the scene you will see in most of the functioning Buddhist temples in China.

Incense burning is a common Chinese religious ritual in Chinese Buddhism as well as Chinese ancestor worship and Taoism. The most common practice is that followers burn three sticks of incense at once, one for the Buddha; another for the Buddha's teachings, known as the Dharma; and a third for the community of Buddhists, the Sangha.

So incense smoke is a soul link between worshippers and the Buddha. With joss sticks burning, people are getting closer to the Buddha and it also reminds us to burn ourselves, to give and to sacrifice though in reality, many people come here praying for health, love, money and the list can be much longer.

The Buddha appears in incense smoke

What does she say to the Buddha?

Burning a joss stick and praying

Leaning to burn incense sticks

Raising joss sticks over the head and taking to the Buddha

Try to experience incense sticks burning experience

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Further Readings