Religious figures endorse environmentally friendly incense

Chinese Buddhist and Taoist figures on Wednesday called for environmentally friendly ways to burn incense during the Spring Festival holiday in a bid to reduce air pollution.

At a press conference held by the Chinese Buddhist Association and Chinese Taoist Association, religious figures, citing classical works of the two religions, called for boycotts of "uncivilized" behavior sometimes seen when offering incense at religious sites.

Qin Chengshui, a priest with the Taoist Palace of the Eight Gods and Goddesses in northwest China's Xi'an City, said the palace was the first Taoist temple to use environmentally friendly incense, and refuses to burn wax, paper or set of firecrackers.

Burning incense is a tradition of the two religions, especially during the Spring Festival holiday, in which Chinese people visit Buddhist and Taoist sites to offer incense to gods and goddesses and pray for blessings.

However, the tradition is now under pressure as air quality is worsening in many parts of China, and people are complaining more about the spread of smog.

Hu Xuefeng, abbot of Beijing's renowned Lama Temple, said environmental protection is the common mission of mankind, so religious figures should also contribute to curbing smog.

Since Dec. 10, the Lama Temple has provided environmentally friendly incense free of charge and does not let visitors bring their own incense.

The environmentally friendly incense is made from pinewood and cedarwood flour and other natural materials. Smoke and other hazardous substances from its burning meet environmental requirements, Hu explained.

After the temple began to provide incense for free, its total incense consumption was cut in half, and incense ashes decreased by two-thirds, according to the abbot.

"The air quality in the temple has improved significantly, and so has visitors' environmental awareness," he said.