Xingang Incense Museum

Burning incense while worshiping is a longstanding practice in almost every temple in Taiwan. It is believed that the lighted incense brings people's prayers directly to the deities above. As a result, some people think the more joss sticks they hold, the more pious they are. On Chinese New Year's Eve, crowds of believers pack in front of some efficacious temples to "light the first incense." The "first incense" is the one first placed into a censer in the new year. By lighting the first incense, people believe they are accumulating the greatest merit and therefore will receive the most blessings in the forthcoming year. But because of environmental concerns, authorities of many temples encourage believers place only one joss stick to show their homage. Pushing the idea further, Taipei's Xing Tian Temple directly prohibits incense burning in the temple. Yet the accustomed practice is not going to change in the near future, so the demand for incense will not decline in a short time.

Joss sticks are made from powdered sandalwood and Chinese herbs. While making joss sticks, craftsmen dip bamboo sticks in water, stir them with the mixed powders, and flap the sticks to make the powders stay on them. Later, the craftsmen need to dye and dry these sticks before they reach the hands of believers for dedication to deities. In Xingang Incense Museum, although some visitors may not have the opportunity to see how incense powders are produced, the craftsmen in a glass room demonstrate stirring and flapping skillfully, satisfying the curiosity of interested visitors.