Despite the chilling wind outside the window, the Dongbi Tingxiang Studio in Shenyang City was filled with warmth. As sunlight shone on the antique long table, wisps of fragrant smoke rose from the replicated zigzag-patterned incense burner from the Hongshan Culture, quickly spreading a refreshing aroma throughout the room.

Japanese and Vietnamese international students from Shenyang Normal University, dressed in Hanfu and horse-face skirts, sat elegantly in front of long tables. On each table stood an antique-style incense burner, replicated by incense artisan Li Xia based on the zigzag-patterned grey pottery incense burner cover unearthed at the Niuheliang Site. In ancient times, incense burners were used for sacrifices and blessings. International students would not only learn about the significance of this incense burner in Hongshan Culture, but also personally experience the traditional Chinese incense culture.

With great enthusiasm, international students picked up and closely observed the replicated incense burners. Li Xia introduced to them the mysterious “origins” of this artifact. The zigzag-patterned grey pottery incense burner cover, which could be dated back to more than 5,000 years ago, was unearthed at the Niuheliang Site. But the body of the burner was missing. This precious artifact signifies that the ancestors of the Hongshan Culture in China had already utilized incense burners in sacrifices and daily life for more than 5,000 years. It is this damaged incense burner that witnessed the birth of the first incense on the vast land of China, carrying a profound historical and cultural significance.

To deepen the international students’ understanding of ancient Chinese incense culture, Li Xia patiently taught them how to create incense seals. She crafted seal molds using patterns inspired by hooked cloud-shaped jade from the Hongshan Culture. International students personally engaged in creating, lifting, and igniting the incense seals. Then, they gently placed the zigzag-patterned grey pottery incense burner cover on top and silently watched wisps of smoke gracefully rising through it, with excitement wearing on their faces.

“Although I have heard of the Hongshan Culture before, I have never had an immersive experience of it,” said Japanese student Okuda Hiroki. “From today’s activity, I learned about this precious artifact unearthed from the Niuheliang Site, and knew that the Hongshan Culture is one of the important origins of Chinese civilization. Liaoning Province boasts rich, profound and unique historical and cultural heritages, which are worthy for us to discover and explore.”