Incense burning is regarded as a comprehensive art form because instruments decorated at the Ko-seki (incense ceremony) or used during procedures for burning Koboku have many artistic elements (see "Accessories used for incense burning" below), and recording paper used in Kumiko (incense combinations; see "Kumiko" below) have calligraphic elements.
同時に、香席に飾られたり、手前に使用する道具は美術的要素が高く（香道の道具）、組香（組香）の記録紙には書道の要素が加わることなど、総合芸術といわれる。