Japanese Traditional Candles
 
Candles where brough into Japan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573)
 
Warosoku, providing warm candlelight, comprise one of the three elements of simple Buddhist ceremonies of meditation and reverence.
The other two elements include incense and flowers. Such ceremonies of light, flower and scent, date back to the sixth century in Japan.
The wax of warosoku is formed from hazenoki, the sumac or wax tree. The wick, rather than string, is actually made of washi–Japanese hand-made paper.

Two basic types of warosoku for meditation are the ikari (wide at the top and narrow at the base – anchor) and the bou (even thickness throughout) forms.

Keywords: Japanese tradition candles candle

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