This place was once known as the Buddhist Kingdom, where sages walked the streets. Quanzhou, a city long enveloped in the fragrance of incense, now elevates incense to a higher artistic and spiritual level, giving birth to a unique fusion of multicultural craftsmanship—Incense Making.
Incense making has evolved from the millennia-old aesthetics of incense culture, using a blend of various aromatic materials as its base and refined through meticulous hand-carving. It is a heritage craft that integrates incense culture, sculptural (molding) arts, and medicinal culinary traditions.
The emergence of Incense making is deeply rooted in China’s centuries-old pursuit of refined living, Quanzhou’s strong spiritual heritage, and its unique sculptural aesthetics, ultimately shaping this distinctive art
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Drawing from the Best, the World Looks to Quanzhou for Incense making – EastAdore Incense series Redefines the Art of Incense Culture.
Quanzhou, a UNESCO World Heritage City and a National Historic and Cultural City, is the birthplace of Southern Fujian culture, renowned for its rich economic and cultural heritage. Known as a treasure trove of diverse cultures, Quanzhou has long been celebrated for its incense traditions and ancient natural incense-making techniques.
With a deep-rooted Buddhist heritage, simple yet profound folk customs, and a unique cultural identity, Quanzhou embodies the refined lifestyle and spiritual essence of the Minnan people. Its distinctive incense culture has been preserved and passed down through generations. It is in this culturally rich land that EastAdore Incense was born.
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The Legacy of EastAdore – From Qingyuan Hall to a New Era of Incense Carving
EastAdore traces its origins back to Qingyuan Hall, an incense shop founded in the late Qing Dynasty by Quanzhou scholar Zeng Qiu. This era marked a turning point in incense craftsmanship, with innovations such as incense sticks emerging. It was during this period that incense carving first took root at Qingyuan Hall. Through generations of refinement and innovation, this practice evolved into a distinctive art form and a specialized craft.
Incense making is a modern Chinese art form, created by blending multiple aromatic ingredients into a base material and meticulously hand-carving each piece. It transforms incense into a tangible and visual art form, offering both aesthetic and functional value. Incense making preserves the essence of traditional incense culture while incorporating elements of sculpting techniques and wellness principles. These pieces serve as artistic accessories and decorative objects, making them both visually compelling and practical.
Under the leadership of its third-generation inheritor, Wei Aiguo, incense making was systematically developed and preserved. Passionate about handcrafted artistry since childhood, Wei dedicated himself to mastering incense making and apprenticed under esteemed masters, including Zhang Chunlin, Li Yishi, Jingyuan, and Huang Sanhong.
In 1965, Wei Aiguo studied under Chinese Arts and Crafts Master Lu Sili, embarking on a journey to modernize and systematize incense carving. By integrating diverse artistic influences and blending traditional incense making techniques with contemporary innovations, he established a new era for the craft, ensuring its continued evolution and relevance in modern times.
In 1975, under the leadership of Wei Aiguo, incense products designed and created by him won the Quanzhou Second Light Industry System New Product Innovation Award. This milestone provided a new platform for the promotion and revival of Quanzhou’s incense culture through incense making, further advancing its reach and artistic significance.
In 1985, Wei Aiguo showcased his innovative hand-painted incense designs at the Canton Fair, where they received immediate orders. This marked a significant milestone as incense making and Quanzhou’s incense-making culture expanded beyond China, reaching international markets.
From 2018 onward, to further preserve and promote Quanzhou’s local culture through incense making, efforts were made to develop large-scale incense carving pieces for Buddhist ceremonies, enhancing both the artistic and cultural depth of the craft.
In 2019, Wei Aiguo was appointed to the China Incense Culture Research Center’s Expert Committee.
In 2022, EastAdore (Chinese market name "Yi Xiang Tang) was established with the mission of preserving Chinese traditional culture and creating a new paradigm for Eastern lifestyle aesthetics. Committed to diversity, inclusivity, and innovation, EastAdore blends modern aesthetics with ancient craftsmanship, reinterpreting the art of incense within contemporary living. By using incense carving as a medium, the brand aims to promote Chinese incense culture globally, positioning Quanzhou as the world’s leading hub for incense making.
In 2024, the EastAdore brand was establied for customers worldwide, carrying forward the vision of sharing China’s traditional culture and intangible heritage craftsmanship with the world. By 2025, EastAdore.com was officially launched, marking a new chapter in the brand’s mission to bring the beauty of Chinese incense culture and artisanal craftsmanship to a global audience.
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Quanzhou, once the maritime trade center of the Song and Yuan dynasties, stands as the starting point of the modern Maritime Silk Road. In this new era, EastAdore Incense , as a representative intangible cultural heritage of Quanzhou, embraces the Maritime Silk Road as a bridge to promote Chinese incense culture globally.
With the vision of establishing Quanzhou as the world’s leading hub for incense making, EastAdore is dedicated to bringing the essence of Chinese fragrance into modern lifestyles worldwide. By blending tradition with contemporary elegance, the brand invites culture and quality lifestyle enthusiasts to experience the beauty of China’s intangible heritage. Through EastAdore’s incense products, the grandeur of Chinese heritage and the refined aesthetics of Song Dynasty culture find new life, adding depth and meaning to the legacy of the Maritime Silk Road.