In Hebei folk religion, people who have the ability to mediate with the gods are known as xiāngdàode (香道的), "practitioners of the way of incense", and they cooperate with good-doing groups [REF].
In the Pear Area, one can acquire the ministry of the way of incense either through afflatus (or vocation, 仙根 xiāngēn) or acquisition (ordination from another specialist) [REF].