108
two types: shih-ch'ing (literally meaning “dark green"), which is less sticky and thus is used in lesser amount when higher grades of joss sticks are produced; and shang-shin, meaning superior shih-ch'ing, which is more adhesive and is indispensable in the production of Ch'ên-hsiung and Tan-hsiang (see Table 3).
Table 3 Glutinous Incense Wood Used
NUMBER OF FACTORIES RAW MATERIALS GLUTINOUS INCENSE WOOD 49 44 China Shih-ch'ing 6 China Shang-shih Vietnam Shih-fen Source: Fieldworks, Hong Kong, 1987.For the fragrant incense powder, a number of varieties from different species and different parts of the tree would be mixed together according to a special formula unique to each factory. It is often impossible for the workers to tell the exact quantity of each component as the accuracy of proportion is felt by experienced hands rather than measured objectively or scientifically. However, as a general rule, one unit of the glutinous incense powder is mixed with two units of fragrant incense powder. Too little of the glutinous powder and the mixture will not adhere, too little fragrant powder and the mixture will be too sticky and the odour too dull. Incense powder is first measured by a dust pan and sieved. Occasionally, some water is added to the powder so that the atmosphere will not be too dusty when the different kinds of powder are mixed. Mixing is done by bare hands and a piece of wood is needed to press the incense powder to facilitate the mixing.
After preparing the mixture, the joss stick worker picks up a bundle of bamboo canes and rejects the sticks which bend, since they are too slender for use. Then the bundle of sticks is dipped into a bucket of water lying next to the worker, leaving three inches for the handle of the sticks. The worker then twists the sticks into a rosette, circling to the left. This expands the gap between each wetted end and eases the adherence of incense powder onto the bamboo sticks. These ends are pushed into the pile of prepared incense powder with the left hand of the worker. At the same time, his right hand is busy spreading the incense powder over the sticks to ensure that even the top of the rosette is well coated with incense. Then the dry ends of the bundle are tapped on the table to knock