We're used to burning incense to make wishes—but this time, I wanted to try something different. Using the vitality of plants, I created incense that truly "breathes."
Every time it's lit, it's a dialogue with nature itself.
The first is Algae Incense Sticks, made from natural green algae. When burning, it produces almost no smoke pollution and emits only a subtle botanical fragrance, as gentle as nature's own breath. The process of making algae incense was full of challenges, testing my patience and becoming a meditative journey of self-cultivation.
In my blog, I documented the entire production process in detail—from selecting materials and handcrafting to the final product.
Select dried algae and other raw materials for making incense sticks.
In my design, the algae used to craft the incense are harvested directly from cultivation vessels integrated within the architecture itself. These algae are carefully grown, nurtured until mature, and then gently dried in the sun to preserve their natural fragrance and purity. Visitors to the temple are invited to personally select from these dried algae, each choice reflecting their own intentions and preferences. This interactive experience not only enhances the spiritual connection, but also reinforces the harmony between human rituals and ecological sustainability.
Weigh the algaes and other natural materials according to the formula.
Using the most primitive method, the raw materials are ground into powder over a period of 3-4 hours. During this process, one sweats lightly, exercising both body and mind, and honing willpower.
Sift the ground fine powder continuously and then grind it again.
Grind other materials and mix them in the right proportions.Add some essential oil to bond the various materials together, forming a soft clump. Then, put this mixture into the machine for making incense sticks.
Place the mixture into an incense extruder to form the desired length.The most difficult part of this step is controlling the spacing and length of each incense stick. You need to cut at the right position, and the machine won't stop to wait for you.
This is the most challenging step. Arrange them neatly on a drying rack for air-drying, as this will determine whether the dried incense sticks are straight.You definitely don't want to offer a bent incense stick to the Buddha.
They can be naturally air-dried or gently oven-dried to remove moisture. Now，the incense sticks are now ready and can be lit.
The other type is a conceptual Steam Incense, designed to harmonize with the virtual Buddha head located in the underground space, creating an atmosphere that transcends reality.
I envisioned placing a specialized heating system at the temple’s lower level, where visitors could gently pour pure water onto heated stones, releasing rising steam as a ceremonial act of devotion. This approach eliminates traditional burning, using clean water vapor to carry wishes and prayers, symbolizing spiritual elevation and purification. To clearly illustrate this concept, I created a visualization depicting the space’s ambiance and the ceremonial experience.
Visitors descend via an elevator from the upper levels into a virtual space, where they encounter and contemplate the digital representation of the Buddha head.
On the first floor, visitors catch glimpses of the Buddha's luminous digital halo, subtly glowing through algae-filled tubes. These algae channels harness and store energy via photosynthesis, gently illuminating the digital Buddha head. A cascading stepped pathway introduces varied elevations, guiding the flow of water naturally downward, enhancing the serene and reflective atmosphere of the space.
There are heated stones at the bottom. Visitors go up the stairs and pour water on the stones to generate water vapor and complete the incense ceremony. The water vapor can provide a humid growth environment for microalgae.
With this, the two distinctive incense rituals are now complete. By personally crafting and lighting algae incense sticks, visitors experience a profound sense of peace and fulfillment derived from sincere devotion and mindful practice. Through the steam incense ritual, they encounter spiritual purification and elevation within an atmosphere blending reality and virtuality. After undergoing these unique experiences, visitors not only achieve a deep interaction with nature but also rediscover the relationship between themselves and their faith.
