Last week, I wandered around an intangible cultural heritage market and found a treasure that perfectly suits my taste—a horse-shaped ceramic incense holder. It’s about the size of a palm, with the porcelain horse raising its head and lifting its hooves. The lines are smooth and delicate, and the glaze is a warm cyan color. There’s an ingot on its back, and the small hole on the ingot is just right for emitting smoke. The design is really exquisite. The stall owner said that horses symbolize progress and good luck in Chinese culture; making the incense holder into a horse shape not only has practical value but also carries beautiful meanings.

Every night before reading, I light a sandalwood stick with it. I gently place the incense stick into the small hole on the ingot on the horse’s back. After lighting it, thin blue smoke drifts out slowly, like a light veil covering the porcelain horse. When the warm fragrance spreads, looking at the horse with its head held high, even turning the pages of a book feels more elegant. What’s even better is that the ceramic material has good heat insulation, so I don’t have to worry about scalding the desk. This little incense holder not only makes my reading time more comfortable but also lets me learn about the craftsmanship and culture in traditional incense tools. It’s really a practical and interesting little item.