Abstract:ThetraditionalChineseincensecultureflourishedduringtheSongDynasty.Variousspiceswereimportedinlargequantities,andactivitiessuchasmakingincense,givingincense,andappreciatingin-censebecameanintegralpartofscholars’lives.ThepoemsinYanJidao’sXiaoshanCithatinvolveincenseburningarerichincontent.Theyconveyboredombydepictingtheburningofincenseandtheapplicationofperfumebywomen,orbyburningincensethroughouttheday.Alternatively,theyconveybeautifulexpecta-tionsthroughheavilyperfumedembroideredquilts.Therecurringimagesofresidualoldincenseandprevi-ousfragrancesbreakthroughthelimitationsoftimeandspace,triggeringthepoet’sreflectionsonthepastandpresentandlamentationsabouthislife’scircumstances,asthelingeringscentstrikeshisheart.