Photohraphs by Nadine Zhan
Tái Sinh: rebirth, reincarnation, recycling
Tái Sinh is a tactile shrine which prioritizes ritual and prayer through the cyclical making of incense from flower offerings. A new way for younger audiences to engage in traditional practices, this shrine values decompression and connection to the spiritual world through incense making, allowing for users to actively participate in Buddhism.
The flower offerings at the top, once dead, can be dried in the bottom compartment and grinded to be mixed into incense to be burned and offered again. All the ingredients for incense making is included in the structure.
Flower offerings in Buddhism reprsent the impermenance of life and the fleeting nature of life. Incense stand as a bridge between us and the spiritural world.
How to Make Incense
Photography by Nadine Zhan
Flower vase
red and black iron oxide wash
18 prayer rings line the handles of the vase, while the top piece features the pestle/incense holder
Photography by Nadine Zhan
Pagoda Incense Dryer
Electric shino and olive glaze
The pagoda inspired piece features teardropped shaped holes to allow for the incense to dry while being stored.
Ingredient Holder
Electric shino glaze
This piece holds the ingredients for incense making.
Pagoda Mortar
Electric shino and Olive glaze
This pagoda inspired piece is the mortar to grind the dried flowers and to mix all the ingrediets together.