A Stick of Ersu Old Game: Hiding the Elegance of Song Dynasty and the Affection Between Brothers

Burning incense was an inherent elegant practice for people in the Song Dynasty. A wisp of green smoke would turn ordinary days into a poem. Among numerous ancient incense recipes, Ersu Old Game has always been a favorite of literati and scholars—it is not a reproduction of a thousand-year-old formula, but a cross-time tribute, hiding the deep brotherly affection between Su Shi and Su Zhe, as well as the warmth and calmness of Chinese incense art. Lighting a stick of Ersu Old Game natural thread incense, as the smoke curls gently, one can almost see the leisurely scene of the two Su brothers sitting opposite each other, burning incense and reciting poems in a Song Dynasty study. It can also calm the impetuous heart of the present time in the elegant fragrance.

Tracing the Origin of Ersu Old Game: A Incense Conveys Affection, Paying Tribute to a Thousand Years of Brotherhood

Many people mistakenly think that Ersu Old Game was formulated by Su Shi himself, but in fact, it is not. This handed-down incense recipe, from the famous contemporary poet Chen Yunjun’s “Yanju Xiangyu” (Incense Talk in Leisure Residence), was specially created to commemorate the two great literati brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe of the Northern Song Dynasty. It aims to recall the talent and moral integrity of the two Su brothers, reproduce the prosperity of incense culture in the Song Dynasty, and tell the eternal brotherly affection.

Su Shi lived a bold and unrestrained life. Although he experienced many hardships, he never changed his original intention. His writings contained the heroism of “The Great River flows eastward” and the calmness of “A life of ease, wearing a straw raincoat and walking through the misty rain”. Su Zhe was gentle and introverted, knowing and accompanying his elder brother. As one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, his knowledge was deeply influenced by his father and elder brother, and his writing style was simple and unadorned. He was always Su Shi’s strongest reliance. People in the Song Dynasty loved incense and integrated incense into their daily lives. Whether it was literati gatherings, reading and tasting tea, or sitting idle, incense was always accompanied. With incense as a medium, Mr. Chen Yunjun created this “Ersu Old Game” by simulating the elegant atmosphere when the two Su brothers gathered. “Ersu” symbolizes deep brotherly affection, “Old” is a remembrance of the elegance of the Song Dynasty, and “Game” refers to the leisurely scene of literati gathering. The name of a incense hides a thousand years of warmth and elegance.

Natural Taste: No Additives, Hiding the Tenderness of Plants and Time

The touching part of Ersu Old Game lies in its purity and warmth—it uses natural incense materials throughout, without any chemical flavors or binders added. Every wisp of fragrance is the true nature of plants and the precipitation of time, just like the friendship between the two Su brothers, pure and long-lasting. Its formula follows the traditional incense blending principle of “monarch, minister, assistant and guide”. The ingredients are simple but rich in layers. Each incense material has its own profound meaning. When matched, the fragrance is elegant and not obtrusive, warm and not strong, with the indifferent moral integrity of literati and scholars.

The selection of incense materials is very particular: agarwood and sandalwood are used as the backbone. Agarwood has a clear and sweet honey flavor, with a long fragrance and the warmth of years; sandalwood adds a mellow and warm tone, with a faint milk fragrance, neutralizing the coolness of agarwood and laying the elegant tone of the whole incense. The two blend together, just like the two Su brothers complementing each other, indispensable. Frankincense and amber are used as the rhyme. Frankincense adds a touch of sweet resin aroma, like the freshness of citrus, breaking the heaviness of woody fragrance; amber prolongs the fragrance retention, adding more calmness, making the fragrance layer more profound and the aftertaste long-lasting. Jujube honey is used as the binder and jasmine as the ornament. Refined honey binds the incense materials, with a natural sweetness that does not overwhelm the fragrance; jasmine petals add a finishing touch, making the fragrance more fresh and vivid. At the first smell, you can feel the faint flower fragrance lingering, driving away the impetuosity of the world, leaving only full comfort.

Different from the pungent chemical incense on the market, the fragrance of Ersu Old Game thread incense is gradual: the top note is the fresh and vivid jasmine, refreshing; the middle note is the interweaving of the sweet honey of agarwood and the sweetness of frankincense, warm and soft; the base note is the mellow and long-lasting sandalwood and amber, calm and introverted. It seems to penetrate time, bringing people into the elegant artistic conception of the Song Dynasty. It is not tired of smelling for a long time, and the more you taste it, the more charming it is. It has a sweet flower and fruit flavor when smelled raw, and becomes more warm when lit, hiding the moral integrity and tenderness of literati.

Suitable for Multiple Scenarios: A Stick of Incense, Healing All Trivial Time

The fragrance of Ersu Old Game is warm and elegant, unobtrusive and not strong, suitable for various daily scenarios. Whether it is sitting alone to calm down, or gathering with friends, a stick of incense can fill the atmosphere with a sense of ritual, adding a touch of poetry and calmness to ordinary days. It also allows you to feel the elegance of literati in the fragrance, healing the impetuosity and fatigue of the present.

• Sitting Quietly in the Study: Light a stick on the desk, the fragrance lingers around the books, blending the ink fragrance with the wood fragrance. It can drive away impetuosity and calm the mind. Whether reading, writing or working, it can make people focus on the present, and inspiration will naturally emerge. It is as if talking with the two Su brothers across time and space, feeling the leisure and calmness of literati. It is especially suitable for urban workers to supplement inspiration and relieve work fatigue.
• Tea Gathering with Friends: On the tea table, incense is accompanied by tea. The warm fragrance neutralizes the bitterness of tea. Friends sit opposite each other, smell the incense and taste the tea, chatting about their thoughts. It has both the elegance of the Song Dynasty and the warmth of the present, making the gathering time more pleasant, hiding the leisure meaning of “Old Game”.
• Resting in the Bedroom: Light a stick before going to bed. The soft fragrance can soothe the nerves, drive away the fatigue and anxiety of the day, help relax the body and mind, improve sleep quality, and accompany you to sleep peacefully in the elegant fragrance. It is not pungent or choking, gently guarding every rest time.
• Meditation and Zen Practice: The green smoke curls, and the fragrance is long-lasting. It can make people calm down, let go of distractions, focus on the inner self, and feel the peace of the body and mind in every breath, driving away the hustle and bustle of the world and finding inner peace. It conforms to the true meaning of incense art: “Incense harmonizes one’s nature; tasting incense is tasting one’s own nature.”
• Gift Giving: Made of natural materials with profound heritage, it has both the elegance of the Song Dynasty and the brotherly affection. Whether it is given to friends who love incense art, or to confidants who cherish friendship, it is a warm and stylish gift, hiding full sincerity and elegance.

Handmade: Reproduce the Elegance of the Song Dynasty with Your Own Hands, Hiding Ingenuity and Affection

The charming part of Ersu Old Game lies not only in its fragrance and heritage, but also in its inclusiveness—Mr. Chen Yunjun only recorded the incense materials in the original formula, not the specific dosage. Everyone can adjust a unique taste according to their own preferences. The process of making it by hand is a dialogue with time and plants, hiding full ingenuity and affection. Even beginners can easily get started and unlock the fun of Chinese incense art.

Preparation Materials (Beginner-Friendly Version)

Incense materials: 2.0g agarwood powder, 1.0g old mountain sandalwood powder, 0.5g frankincense powder, 0.3g amber powder, an appropriate amount of dried jasmine petals (can be pre-treated to enhance the fragrance); binder: an appropriate amount of refined jujube honey (if there is no refined honey, it can be replaced with red sticky powder + agarwood jasmine cooked water); tools: grinder (if the incense materials are not ground into powder), sieve, mixing bowl, plastic wrap, thread incense mold (optional), drying rack, airtight jar (for storage).

Production Steps

1. Process the incense materials: Grind agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense and amber into fine powder respectively, put them into a sieve to sift out impurities, make the powder finer, and ensure that the fragrance can be emitted evenly; quickly blanch the dried jasmine petals with boiling water, stir-fry them slowly over low heat until dry, and crush them for later use (this treatment makes the jasmine fragrance more intense). If fresh jasmine is used, it can be directly mashed for later use.
2. Mix the incense powder: Pour the sieved agarwood powder, sandalwood powder, frankincense powder and amber powder into a mixing bowl, stir thoroughly to ensure that the fragrance of each incense material is initially blended, avoiding fragrance stratification. When stirring, you can gently knead to make the powder finer and more uniform.
3. Mix the incense clay: Add refined jujube honey in batches (avoid adding too much at one time, which will lead to excessive honey taste and inability to form a ball), stir while adding until the incense powder forms flocculent, then knead by hand into a ball, knead until the surface of the incense clay is smooth, non-sticky and tough; if replacing with sticky powder, add an appropriate amount of agarwood jasmine cooked water, stir and knead into clay to restore the original fragrance to the greatest extent.
4. Wake up the clay and shape it: Wrap the kneaded incense clay with plastic wrap and let it rest for 2 hours (beginners are advised not to skip this step, as the clay is easier to shape without breaking after waking up); after waking up, you can use a thread incense mold to extrude uniform thread incense, or roll it into thin strips by hand. Pay attention to uniform thickness to avoid breaking. After rolling, gently sort out the shape and place it on a drying rack.
5. Dry in the shade and store: Place the thread incense in a ventilated, cool place away from direct sunlight to dry in the shade, avoid exposure to the sun (exposure to the sun will damage the fragrance of the incense materials and cause fragrance loss), dry in the shade for 3-7 days until the thread incense is completely dry and hard in texture; put the dried thread incense into an airtight jar for storage for more than 15 days, allowing the fragrance to fully blend and mellow. The longer the storage time, the warmer and longer-lasting the fragrance, the more charming it is, and the traditional Chinese medicine taste of amber will gradually fade, becoming more elegant.

In the End

A stick of Ersu Old Game thread incense burns the true nature of natural plants, hides the brotherly affection of the two Su brothers, tastes the elegance and calmness of the Song Dynasty, and even more the yearning for a slow life of people today. It has no strong fragrance, but it can penetrate impetuosity and soothe the heart; it has no complex formula, but it can carry a thousand years of literary context and convey Chinese aesthetics.

Whether you light a stick in your leisure time to talk with yourself; or make it by hand to hide a touch of ingenuity; or give it to a confidant to convey a touch of affection, Ersu Old Game can perfectly fit every mood. As the green smoke curls, the elegant style of the Song Dynasty blows, and the brotherly affection lingers in the heart. All the trivial fatigue and impetuosity can slowly dissipate in this wisp of fragrance, leaving only full warmth and calmness.

May you find a moment of leisure and a touch of affection in a stick of Ersu Old Game, live up to time and elegance.