聞香，豈能不讚嘆？Appreciating the Fragrance of Incense in Awe

合香是中國傳統的製香方式。合香，亦寫為「和香」，又稱「合和香」，是將兩種以上的香藥合成的香，運用的是五行生剋的中醫智慧和天人相應的哲學思維。

Traditionally, synthetic incense has been the mainstream of incense manufacture. That is to say, the incense products commonly contain more than two ingredients and the combinations are based on the five elements of Chinese medicine and philosophy.

「和」具有「和諧」之意，因此和香不是簡單的添加香藥而已，更重要的是人與自然的相處之律、是香與人的身心相合、也是香藥與香藥的和悅共鳴。合香蘊含的精神，是中國天人合一、師法自然的生命實踐。

The combined ingredients not only add layers upon layers of fragrance to the incense products but also implicate the harmony between human beings and nature, the harmony between incense and human beings, and the harmony among ingredients. Hence, to Chinese, synthetic incense represents the unity of heaven and human beings as well as our respect for mother nature.

每一種香藥都有不同的氣味、藥性、用法，帶給人的精神體驗也不同。自古人們在各種香料的產地、性能、調製、運用等方面的研製，有了專門精細化、系統化的研究體系，形成中國特有的製香精神與方法，是其他國家望塵莫及的。

In fact, each ingredient has its own unique smell, medicinal property, and usage, and thus different ingredients bring us different spiritual experiences. Since ancient times, incense manufacturers have been systematically probing into the properties and origins of all incense ingredients in order to upgrade the applications and manufacturing of the ingredients. This is why Chinese have their specific way of incense manufacture and their techniques surpass those of other countries.

中國人是很會運用植物的民族，中醫所用的中藥材有百分之九十以上是植物，但這些藥用植物被定位為醫療的「藥」，用來照顧身體。在香的世界裡，則將這些植物提升到心與靈的層面，以植物的生命力來修復受傷、挫折、障礙的生命，啟動生生不息的原生力。

Chinese are proficient at making good of herbs. Over ninety percent of Chinese medicine ingredients are plant-based. These plant ingredients are seen as medicine and can be utilized to take care of human health. However, when these plants become the ingredients of incense, the plants can even nourish the mind and soul of human beings, since it is believed that plants can mend our disability or injury and trigger endless vigor.

無論是一株小草或一朵小花，都以自身的美好貢獻給世界，增添人間的芬芳。品香的過程，創造了人與香的互動交流；當輕煙升起，香正綻放其生命精粹療育我們。對這天地的賜予，豈能不讚嘆？不謙卑？

Any little grass or flower can contribute its own beauty to the world. When appreciating the fragrance of incense, we can interact with incense. As the burning incense heals our body and mind, how can we not appreciate it in awe and humility?