Hello all, I currently doing research on medieval Chinese religions and smell culture.
I'll share a recent fun essay I made for the Shōsō-in exhibit that opened last week, its about my favorite item in the collection - an ancient hunk of aloeswood.
peterromaskiewicz.com/2024/09/24/r...
Ranjatai 蘭奢待: World’s Most Famous Aloeswood
Arguably, the most famous singular piece of aloeswood in the world is held by the Shōsō-in 正倉院, the imperial Japanese treasury located at the famed Buddhist temple Tōdai-ji 東大寺 in Nara. This golden…