In Todai-ji Temple in Japan, there is an ancient incense wood called "Lan Luxury", which is known as "Japan's first incense". Not only is this piece of incense wood staggering in size – 156 cm long and 11.6 kg in weight – it also has an unusual origin. Its story can be traced back thousands of years to the Sui Dynasty, a period of cross-generational cultural exchange between China and Japan.
Let's start with the name of this fragrant wood. Lan luxury, the name sounds quite luxurious, in fact, in ancient times it was not only synonymous with rare spices, but also a status symbol. Imagine that in that era of scarcity, it was undoubtedly an extremely rare honor to own and use such a piece of fragrant wood.
The origin of this fragrant wood can be traced back to 581 AD, when Emperor Jing Chan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty gave the throne to Yang Jian, and the Sui Dynasty began. Yang Jian, the founder of the Sui Dynasty, ended the centuries-long division by unifying the north and the south, and opened an era of great unification. Soon after, the influence of the Sui Dynasty spread far and wide, attracting the Japanese state on the shores of the East China Sea.
According to historical records, Japan had maintained close ties with the Central Plains Dynasty through frequent envoy exchanges at that time. By the Sui Dynasty, this cultural and diplomatic exchange reached a new climax. In 607 AD, the 33rd emperor of Japan, Emperor Suiko, sent a delegation headed by Ono Meizi to Luoyang, the eastern capital of the Sui Dynasty, with the purpose of deepening the friendly relations between the two countries and learning from the advanced culture and political system of the Sui Dynasty.
After Ono Meizi and his party arrived in Luoyang, they were shocked by the prosperity there. Luoyang was the eastern capital of the Sui Dynasty at that time, and its prosperity naturally did not need to be said. Under the reception of the Sui Dynasty, the delegation stayed in a special hotel and waited for a meeting with Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty. A few months later, Ono finally had the honor to meet Emperor Yang of Sui, who held a grand banquet in recognition of the arrival of the mission.
At the banquet, the atmosphere was originally harmonious and pleasant. Emperor Yang of Sui asked about the purpose of the mission, and Ono Meizi also replied skillfully, praising Emperor Yang of Sui as the "Son of Heaven of Haixi Bodhisattva", which obviously won the favor of Emperor Yang of Sui. The good times didn't last long, and when Ono presented the emperor's handwritten letter, everything took a turn for the worse.
It turned out that the wording in the letter made Emperor Yang of Sui feel extremely dissatisfied. A sentence in the document - "The sunrise is the son of heaven, and the book is not the son of heaven on the day of the book?" This sentence seems ordinary, but in fact it implies that "the sunrise is better than the sunset", and Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty thought that this was disrespectful to the Sui Dynasty. The atmosphere became tense for a while, Emperor Yang Sui's face sank, and the atmosphere of the entire banquet became awkward. However, although Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty in history was known for his irritability, he still showed great restraint and wisdom in foreign exchanges. He did not attack on the spot, but chose another way to show the tolerance and generosity of the Sui Dynasty.
Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty ordered someone to take out a piece of fragrant wood, which was the later "Lan luxury". He personally gave this piece of incense to Ono and expressed his hope that the two countries could continue to maintain peaceful and friendly relations. This piece of fragrant wood was not only regarded as a precious gift at that time, but also a symbol of the culture of the Sui Dynasty. Ono took over Kamu, knowing that this is a great responsibility and a high level of trust and respect for Japan.
After the Sui Dynasty, this piece of fragrant wood was brought back to Japan by Ono Meiko and became a treasure of the Japanese imperial family. Over time, the aroma of Ranho has gradually become integrated into Japanese culture, becoming a historical and cultural heritage that cannot be expressed in words. What's even more amazing is that this piece of incense wood is still preserved in Todai-ji Temple in Japan and has become one of the undisputed national treasures.
Lan Luxury is not just an ordinary piece of fragrant wood. In Japan, it has transcended the material dimension and has become a spiritual symbol. Whenever there is a major religious ceremony or national event, Lan Indulgence is carefully taken out, and its unique aroma is believed to purify the mind and bring good luck. It is also said that even the emperor of Japan did not have the right to touch this piece of incense, which shows its importance in Japanese culture.
The story of Lan Extravagant is not only a legend about fragrant wood, but also a profound history of cultural exchanges between China and Japan. From the gift of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty to becoming a national treasure of Japan, this fragrant wood has witnessed more than a thousand years of trials and hardships. Today, when we stand in front of Todai-ji Temple, it is not difficult to feel the fragrance that has been passed down from ancient times to the present, which is not only a witness of time, but also a symbol of friendship and respect that flows between two ancient civilizations.