Blended Incense Horse Pendant – Abundance

1.The Eastern Story of  Horses and Abundance

The horse is a timeless symbol of speed, diligence, and good fortune. Ancient courier systems relied on horses to deliver news instantly, giving birth to the idiom “ma shang” (on the horse / immediately). This evolved into classic auspicious motifs like “Ma Shang Feng Hou” (Immediate Nobility). In modern times, this transformed into the popular blessing of abundance, where an ingot or money is placed on a horse’s back to pray for financial prosperity and a better life. The Qing Miao Xiang Blended Horse Pendant carries this joyful heritage, transforming a modern blessing into breathable and visible decoration.

2.”Qing Miao Xiang” – Clear and Subtle Incense

The “Qingmiaoxiang” (Clear and Subtle Incense) was first documented in the Song Dynasty’s “Chen’s Incense Manual”. During the mid-Northern Song Dynasty, literati gatherings flourished, with “instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, tea, and incense” being central to these events. To meet the demand for an incense that was “elegantly subtle without overpowering, and ethereally inspiring for poetic moods” during these gatherings, a pioneer of literati incense culture, created the “Qingmiaoxiang.”

The ancients believed that incense should not be too strong, as it would disrupt the appreciation of music and scholarly pursuits. Therefore, Qing miao xiang uses agarwood and sandalwood as its base, accented with borneol and musk, creating a fragrance that is “clear but not bland, wonderfully elegant but not gaudy.”

The agarwood and sandalwood provide a rich, mellow woody base; the borneol adds a crisp, refreshing coolness; and the musk imparts a lively, penetrating quality to the aroma. White honey (refined honey) is used as a natural binder, along with a trace amount of natural saltpeter to brighten the scent. Its unique craftsmanship lies in the “double-boiler honey heating” method (gently heating the refined honey in a bain-marie to make the sweetness milder and avoid the cloyingness of raw honey).

After blending the incense, it must be sealed in ceramic ware for “cellaring” for one month, allowing the various aromatic properties to fully meld. When burned or worn, the incense emits a clear, moist, and ethereal fragrance with a sweet, lingering finish.

(Making Blended Incense)