Shoyeido

Shoyeido (Japanese: 松榮堂、松栄堂, Hepburn: Shōeidō) is one of the oldest traditional Japanese incense companies, established more than 300 years ago, producing high quality, natural incense. The company is based in Kyoto.

Name

Shōeidō written in kanji

The name "Shoyeido" (Shōeidō) is derived from the three characters Shō, Ei, and Dō.

• Shō means "Pine tree"
• Ei is the ancient sound meaning "Prosperity"
• Dō is a store or company.

The Shō is from the traditional Sho Chiku Bai trio of shō (松 pine tree), chiku (竹 bamboo) and bai (梅 plum tree), which are used as a traditional Japanese grading system, to represent varying degrees of quality. In this grading system, shō represents the highest grade or quality.

Stores

Shoyeido has 7 retail stores. There are two in Kyōto, three in Tōkyō, one in Sapporo, and one in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Incense

Shoyeido carries several series of incense. The two main series are the "Daily Incense" series (京線香, Kyō-senkō) and the "Premium Incense" series (高級線香, Kōkyū-senkō). The following tables are ordered from least expensive to most expensive.

Half-size boxes: Sei-fū, Haku-un, Kyō-zakura, Kin-kaku

Premium incense: Matsu-no-tomo, Ōja-kō, Kyō-jiman, Shun-yō, Mishō

Daily Incense (京線香, Kyō-senkō)

English	Japanese	Romaji
Great Origin	大元香	Daigen-kō
Eternal Treasure	寶永香	Hōei-kō
Orchid	蘭華	Ranka
Kyoto Autumn Leaves	京にしき	Kyō-nishiki
Moss Garden	のきば	Nokiba
Golden Pavilion	金閣	Kin-kaku
Kyoto Cherry Blossom	京桜	Kyō-zakura
Five Hills	五山	Go-zan
White Cloud	白雲	Haku-un
Circle	円明	En-mei
Fresh Breeze	清風	Sei-fū
Low smoke series
Silhouette	ほのか	Honoka
Gossamer	かすみ	Kasumi
Illusions	おぼろ	Oboro

Premium Incense (高級線香, Kōkyū-senkō)

English	Japanese	Romaji
Friend of Pine	松の友	Matsu-no-tomo
King's Aroma	王奢香	Ōja-kō
Pride of Kyoto	京自慢	Kyō-jiman
Beckoning Spring	春陽	Shun-yō
Gentle Smile	微笑	Mishō
Southern Wind	南薫	Nan-kun
Refinement	雅芳	Ga-hō
Five Clouds	五雲	Go-un
Infinity	妙芳	Myō-hō
Translucent Path	正覚	Shō-kaku

See also

• Kōdō (Japanese Incense Ceremony)

External links

• Shoyeido website (available in English and Japanese)