【双语】End of Heat & Incense-Making Craft 处暑&制香技艺正观新闻

1232^ndarticle 第1232期双语推文

When the summer clouds disperse, a gentle cool breeze began to blow. Today is the End of Heat, the 14^th solar term in the 24 solar terms. The dog days are about to recede yet still linger. At this moment, lighting a stick of incense to dispel the summer heat and dampness is refreshingly soothing.

离离暑云散，袅袅凉风起。今日处暑，二十四节气中的第十四个节气。三伏天的热辣滚烫将退未退。此时，燃起一支香，去暑祛湿，沁人心脾。

Incense-making is an ancient Chinese craft that carries the fragrance of bygone years. It matured in the Song Dynasty and has been passed down to the present day. It was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage project of Zhengzhou City in 2021.

制香是中国古老的技艺，承载着岁月的芬芳。它成熟于宋代，传承至今，于2021年被列为郑州市级非物质文化遗产项目。

From sandalwood and agarwood to herbs and flowers, the selection of incense materials is meticulous. While blending fragrances, emphasis is also placed on their therapeutic effects. As early as the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen, the Sage of Medicine, documented in his Compendium of Materia Medica that fragrance and medicine share the same origin. Grinding, storing, air-drying and bundling are meticulously performed at every level, all to ensure the fragrance lingers long and carries deep meaning.

从檀木、沉香到草药、花卉，香料选材讲究。在调香的同时也注重疗愈之效。早在明代，药圣李时珍就在《本草纲目》中记载香药同源的东方智慧。研磨、窖藏、阴干、捆把，层层细致，只为香味悠长、韵味无穷。

The delicate smoke rises like a soft veil, gracefully dispelling the dampness from hidden corners and smoothing inner restlessness. Each wisp of smoke is the distillation of time, and each process reflects the artisan's dedication. At this moment, the End of Heat is no longer just a change in temperature, but a shift in the state of mind. From the brilliance of summer flowers to the serene beauty of autumn leaves, it leads to inner tranquility.

细腻的青烟如薄纱轻舞，袅袅娜娜地升腾，消解角落的潮湿，抚平内心的浮躁。每一缕香烟都是岁月的凝炼，每一道工序彰显匠人匠心。此时，处暑不再只是温度的变化，而成为一种心境的转变。从夏花灿烂到秋叶静美，走向内心的安宁。