After its construction in 1420 during the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven is a stunning feat in world architecture history that has contributed so much, it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to stand for a thousand more years. With the primary purpose of the Temple of Heaven to worship the holy deities in China’s rich culture and history.
To commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Temple of Heaven, the Beijing Temple of Heaven Store reached out the Li Jiuzhou Studio design firm to create a magnificent Pu ‘er tea cake packaging to sell to the masses on temple grounds to celebrate the eternal temple’s birthday for another 600 years.
The packaging is a minimalist, but complex and intricate one while also bearing a regal look to fit the overarching theme of the Temple of Heaven. It is a round tin box of gold that perfectly fits a piece of pu ‘er tea cake. Also found inside is the graphic of the Temple of Heaven colored dominantly with vermillion blue with jade green and crimson red accents. The bottom of the packaging is also laser engraved with the real-like picture of the temple as well.
The standout art piece of the packaging goes to the lid design of the tin box, which is a symmetrical pavilion of clouds and depictions of heaven help up by four thick wooden pillars. Where the inspiration comes from the curvature of the dome seen from above when entering the interior of the Temple of Heaven. This ancient design is more than enough to give the designers inspiration to create a more modern take.
The final piece of the design stops at the main treasure that the packaging hides within, the wrapper of the tea cake treat. At first sight, it may look like stark white parchment of paper with unassuming and microscopic dots peppered across it. But for astrologers who take a closer look at the print of the wrapper, the dots connect to each other as the 28 different star constellation that is viewed from space observed over Chinese airspace.
Representing the peak of modern architecture that dates back over 600 years of colorful history and culture, this packaging design absolutely captures the heavenly essence into this simple and complex aesthetic with a treat that is worthy of the Temple of Heaven!
Credits
Name: Pu ‘er tea for the 600th anniversary of the Temple of Heaven
Company: Li Jiuzhou Studio
Client: Beijing Temple of Heaven Store
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