고려 전‧중기 향과 문화 생활

Abstract

This study reviewed the production and import of incense and its national and civil usage from the early period of Koryo Dynasty to the military regime. Koryo Dynasty produced benzoin, musk, red sandalwood, white sandalwood, fennel, elecampane, and sweet grass. It also produced small amount of lysimachiae foenum-graeci herba, agastache herba, frankincense, clove, and orchid. In addition, other incenses including aloeswood, elecampane, clove, nutmeg, myrrh, betony, borneol, musk, and Champa incense were introduced to Koryo Dynasty through the official trade with Song Dynasty and Saracen Dynasty. In Koryo Dynasty, the incenses were used for a variety of ceremonies such as receptions of foreign envoys, proclamations of the crowns for queen, prince, and princess. Moreover, it was used for commemorative rites for ancestors, Buddhist sanctums, offerings, and Royal gifts to people of merit. The common people of both sexes also carried incenses on themselves and bathed with incenses to enjoy the fragrance on the body. The noble usually burned the incenses in their houses and they did even in the feast. It was more common to offer incense burning as a religious activity in temples. As can be seen from the national and civil usage of incenses in Koryo Dynasty, there were even more diverse incenses than those recorded in historical data regarding foreign trades. Additionally, of the incenses used at national and civil levels, the domestic incenses only included musk and red sandalwood. The rest of them were all imported incenses. In light of this, it is obvious that the high level of active foreign trade was conducted in Koryo Dynasty. It also indicates that the users of incenses in the early and mid-period of Koryo Dynasty were limited to the royal and the noble classes. The overview of the incense and its culture during the Koryo Dynasty reconfirms the social characteristics of Koryo Dynasty which were international, open, and aristocratic.