Shi-Jin-Yu Mu Xiang Zhai Co., Ltd.

Incense Master Shih Chi-hsun: Preserving Heritage and Innovating with Natural Quality

The abundance of temples in Lukang is unmatched nationwide, making the burning of incense an integral part of daily cultural life. Consequently, the incense industry has naturally become a traditional pillar of Lukang. Unlike other traditional trades that have faced decline, the incense industry here has not only maintained its standing but has flourished. This is primarily due to the emergence of skilled master craftsmen and, more importantly, their insistence on traditional methods—refusing to add artificial fragrances, which has earned their products widespread favor. Shih Chi-hsun is a grandmaster of Lukang incense-making and a pivotal figure in carrying this legacy from the past into the future.

 

The Shih Chin Yu Incense Shop of Lukang is renowned far and wide, having been passed down for over 200 years. Founded by the first-generation ancestor, Shih Fa, who moved from Quanzhou to Lukang during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the business is now in its eighth generation. The seventh generation saw the family tree branch out into three separate entities. This occurred because the three sons of the sixth-generation patriarch, Shih Yi-han, each established their own independent businesses. Although Shih Chi-hsun is the second-born son, he is ranked third due to the early passing of his eldest brother. With his father's blessing, he founded the shop name "Shih Chin Yu San Fang" (The Third Branch). Having received his father’s true mentorship and recognition, he successfully brought greater glory to the Shih Chin Yu name. Today, Shih Chi-hsun’s two sons, Shih Yeh-chih and Shih Cheng-nung, have inherited his craft and become independent master artisans in their own right.

 

Reflecting on the industry, Shih Chi-hsun recalls helping with non-technical tasks like cutting and pasting paper packaging since childhood. Through this early exposure, he gained a fundamental understanding of the trade. It was only after graduating from junior high school that he formally apprenticed under his father. The hardships of mastering the craft are difficult for outsiders to imagine. For instance, the powder-coating process requires all doors and windows to be tightly shut; in the summer, this is agonizing, and being drenched in sweat is inevitable—even in winter, craftsmen often work shirtless.

 

Though a single stick of incense seems small, it contains vast knowledge—from the selection of bamboo and the blending of spices and binding powders to the complex procedures of coating and sun-drying. A slight oversight can render the entire batch useless. A high-quality stick of incense must not only carry the natural scents of sandalwood or agarwood but must also allow the smoke to linger gracefully—this is where the skill of a master lies. Accumulating experience is also essential for sourcing the finest materials to ensure superior quality. Shih Chi-hsun upholds his father’s ancestral motto of "adhering to tradition," utilizing natural ingredients like agarwood and sandalwood while strictly avoiding chemical additives. This commitment to quality differentiation is the primary reason "Shih Chin Yu San Fang" stands firm and remains popular.

 

Today, Shih Chi-hsun’s greatest achievement and source of pride is seeing his sons carry on the lineage and continue to expand the business.

 

Source: Lukang Township Office 【Lukang Nostalgia】 March 2014 Issue