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Jiajian (Shell-based Incense Paste) Preparation Method from *Qianjin Yifang*.

*Jiaxiang* (Ambergris, 3 liang), *Chenxiang* (Aquilaria Wood, 6 liang), *Dingxiang* (Clove), *Huoxiang* (Patchouli Herb, each 4 liang), *Xunluxiang* (Frankincense), *Fengxiang Gao* (Maple Resin Paste), *Shexiang* (Musk, each 2 liang), *Dazao* (Jujube Fruit, 10 pieces, flesh only).

The above eight herbs are chopped into pieces the size of bean slices. They are then mixed and stirred with 2 he of honey, placed in a porcelain crucible, covered with silk gauze, and shielded with interlaced bamboo strips. Take 6 sheng of oil, 4 liang of *Linglingxiang* (Lingling Herb), and 2 liang of *Gansong* (Sweet Flag Rhizome), wrapped in silk gauze, and place them in the oil. Boil in a copper pot over slow fire for four or five boils, then stop. Remove the dregs, add 1.5 sheng of wine, and pour everything back into the crucible. Cover again with bamboo strips. Then, dig a pit in the ground, place the crucible on top so that half of it protrudes above the surface. Place the smaller crucible containing the previous small aromatics upside down over the mouth of this crucible. Wrap the two mouths with wet paper and seal with mud to a thickness of one cun. Heat the crucible from below, starting fire from morning until evening, heating until the fourth watch (early morning). Wait for it to cool the next day. Observe that the aromatic juice from the upper crucible has dripped halfway into the lower crucible; the preparation is complete.

Cui Shi’s Formula for Burning Jiajian Aromatic Oil and Mixing Lip Balm.

*Lanze Xiang* (Orchid Aroma), *Linglingxiang* (Lingling Herb, 1 jin), *Gansong* (Sweet Flag Rhizome, 5 liang), *Wuhuoxiang* (Wu Patchouli, 6 liang), *Xinya Wumayu* (Freshly Pressed Black Sesame Oil, 1 sheng).

Select the above five herbs carefully according to large quantities, wash them clean with warm water, soak them in a mixture of wine and water until uniform, and let stand for one day and one night. Place them in a copper pot and boil over slow fire for one night, totaling two days and two nights. Ensure slow fire boiling is completed, filter out the aromatic dregs, clarify the liquid, and filter through silk gauze. Place in a porcelain crucible, ensuring no aroma escapes, and seal properly.

*Chenxiang* (Aquilaria Wood, 1 jin), *Dingxiang* (Clove), *Jiaxiang* (Ambergris, each 1 liang), *Shexiang* (Musk), *Xunluxiang* (Frankincense), *Aina* (Camphor Tree Leaves, each half small liang), *Baijiaoxiang* (White Dragon's Blood Resin), *Suhexiang* (Styrax Benzoin, each 1 liang).

Select the above eight herbs by large quantity, crush each separately to the size of sesame seeds. First refine white honey, removing all foam. Mix the *Chenxiang* and other herbs with the honey in a lacquer tray until uniform. If the herbs are dry, mix with the previously prepared aromatic oil to ensure even distribution. Pack tightly into a ceramic vessel. Depending on the bottle size, take an appropriate amount of herbs, wrap in silk gauze, and use to plug the bottle mouth, adjusting tightness as needed. Secure with three green bamboo strips. Invert the bottle mouth over the mouth of the previously prepared aromatic oil bottle, aligning them perfectly. Seal the edges with mashed hemp mud, three cun thick, and apply one cun thick mud over the herb bottle. Roast slowly around the bottle with charcoal fire until the surface is dry. Then switch to rice husk fire; horse manure fire is also excellent. Burn for three nights and four days without interrupting the fire. Check frequently to ensure even mixing; uneven distribution will result in uneven dripping of aromatic juice. After burning for three nights and four days, extinguish the fire. If the oil is overheated, it will burn; retain a slight "vital energy." Let stand for two days until the paste cools. Open the upper bottle, remove it, and take another bottle. Place one portion of herbs in the new bottle and burn following the previous method. If no other bottle is available, reuse the old one. Once all three portions are burned, do not open immediately. Let stand for three days and three nights after extinguishing the fire, then wait another two days. The *Jiajian* is complete. Clarify and measure, casting/pouring according to color. If less *Chenxiang* is used, add less aromatic oil; burning the upper herb bottle once is sufficient to yield good fragrance. Five sheng, one copper pot, one copper bowl, one large jin of yellow wax. Place the wax in the pot and melt over slow fire until foam disappears. Pour into the bowl and let stand briefly for the wax to solidify. Retrieve the wax and remelt it as before. Select one large jin of *Zicao* (Arnebia Root/Lithospermum Root). Use long bamboo tongs to hold a handful, place in the melted wax, and boil to extract purple color. Remove the herb, add another handful, repeating until one jin of *Zicao* is exhausted. The wax color is now sufficient. For purple lip balm, add no other colors. For flesh-colored lip balm, add small amounts of yellow and purple wax. For vermilion lip balm, mix two soybean-sized grains of *Zhusha* (Cinnabar) into every one liang of colored wax. To make the three types of lip balm: mix half a he of *Jiajian* into one liang of colored wax. Apply to the head and place on bamboo to check for proper firmness and flexibility. Pour onto bamboo.

Another Method for Preparing Jiajian Requires First Making Aromatic Oil.

*Linglingxiang* (Lingling Herb), *Huoxiang* (Patchouli Herb, each 1 liang, chopped and slightly moistened with wine, wrapped in silk gauze, placed in 2 sheng of raw black sesame oil, boiled overnight over slow fire, strained, and the oil stored in a 3-sheng bottle buried in a pit with the mouth level with the ground), *Chenxiang* (Aquilaria Wood, 1 jin), *Xiao Jiaxiang* (Small Ambergris, 8 liang), *Shexiang* (Musk, 3 liang), *Suhexiang* (Styrax Benzoin, 1 liang).

Crush the above six herbs to the size of soybeans. Mix with honey and place in a small horn-shaped bottle. Seal the mouth with bamboo strips to prevent leakage. Invert this horn bottle into the soil with the mouth facing inward. Seal the interface between the two bottles with paper mud to prevent soil entry. Apply mud to the upper part of the herb bottle, 6-7 fen thick. Burn with one stone of rice husks over the upper bottle. The fire should be mild, not fierce, burning until the husks are consumed. The preparation is complete. (All extracted from Volume 9).

*Gujin Luyan* Jiajian Formula.

*Chenxiang* (Aquilaria Wood), *Jiaxiang* (Ambergris, each 5 liang), *Tánxiang* (Sandalwood, half liang), *Shexiang* (Musk, 1 fen), *Xiangfuzi* (Cyperi Rhizome), *Gansong* (Sweet Flag Rhizome), *Suhexiang* (Styrax Benzoin), *Baijiaoxiang* (White Dragon's Blood Resin, each 2 liang).

Crush the above eight herbs, mix with honey, fill a small porcelain bottle, cover the mouth with silk gauze, and secure with cross-woven bamboo strips. Take 2 sheng of raw hemp oil, 1.5 fen of *Linglingxiang* (Lingling Herb), 2 fen of *Huoxiang* (Patchouli Herb), 2 fen of *Maoxiang* (Imperata Rhizome), and 1 sheng of water. Soak the herbs overnight, place in the oil, and simmer over low heat for about half a day until the aromatic oil is ready. Strain and store in a separate porcelain bottle. Invert the small herb bottle into the mouth of the lower bottle. Seal with hemp mud, applying mud 5 fen thick around the bottle. Bury in the ground with the mouth level with the earth. After sealing the upper bottle, burn gently over the bottle with rice husk fire for about half a day. Keep the fire going until the husks are consumed, but do not let it go out completely. Simmer for three days and three nights. Let stand for about two days to cool. Use the aromatic oil. It is said that letting it stand for twenty days improves quality. It is said that under-burning results in lack of fragrance; thorough burning is required. This formula is excellent.

Another Formula

Wax, Honey (each 10 liang), *Zicao* (Arnebia Root, 1.5 liang).

Melt the wax and honey together until uniform. Mix *Zicao* with *Zhusha* (Cinnabar) and *Zexie* (Alisma Rhizome) in a mortar.

Cai Ni’s Jiajian Formula.

*Chenxiang* (Aquilaria Wood, 6 liang), *Dingxiang* (Clove), Ding KT Xiang (4 liang), *Fengxiang* (Maple Resin), *Qingmuxiang* (Blue Sandalwood, each 2 liang), *Shexiang* (Musk, 1 unit), *Dazao* (Jujube Fruit, 10 pieces).

*Rou Jiaxiang* (Meaty Ambergris, 3 liang).

Chop the above eight herbs. Mix with 1 he of honey and place in a crucible. Cover with silk gauze and secure with bamboo strips. Take 6 sheng of oil, 4 liang of *Linglingxiang* (Lingling Herb), 2 liang of *Gansong* (Sweet Flag Rhizome), wrapped in silk gauze, and place in the oil. Boil over slow fire for four or five boils, then stop. Remove the herbs, place the crucible in the ground. Align the small herb crucible with the large crucible. Wrap the mouths with wet paper and seal with mud about 7 fen thick. Maintain fire heavily from morning to noon, then switch to slow fire until the fourth watch, then extinguish. Wait until the next day to cool and open. The *Jiajian* is complete.