“Cloud tea is like life; life is learning, wisdom is cultivation.”
Dear tea friends, today I will share with you the story behind the evolution of the Tong Qing trademark. From the “Long Ma trademark” to the “Double Lion Flag design,” this change is actually a microcosm of an era.
As previously mentioned, Tong Qing had been using the “Long Ma trademark” for one or two hundred years. However, during the Gengshen year, around 1920, Tong Qing made a significant decision—to change its trademark to the “Double Lion Flag design.” Why did this change occur? The reason is simple: times had changed.
In 1920s China, the country was undergoing massive social transformations. The Qing Dynasty had fallen, the Republic of China had been established, and the values and aesthetic standards of the entire society were changing. Western culture began to influence the Chinese way of life, and an atmosphere of transition between the old and the new permeated the nation. As a visionary tea estate, Tong Qing understood that to continue developing in this new era, it had to progress with the times. Changing the trademark was an important measure for them to adapt to the new era.
The design of the Double Lion Flag integrates both traditional and modern elements. In Chinese culture, lions represent majesty and power; the pattern of two lions facing each other possesses both a sense of traditional solemnity and modern symmetrical beauty. This design cleverly combines the traditional heritage of Tong Qing with the spirit of the new era. The change in trademark also represents Tong Qing’s repositioning of its brand image. The new trademark is more eye-catching and powerful, perfectly suited to the aesthetic trends of the Republican era.
I find this matter quite inspiring. In our daily lives, we often need to face change. Much like drinking tea for health, the methods used by the ancients may differ greatly from ours today, but the core philosophy remains unchanged—regulating the body and mind through the consumption of tea. The form may change, but the essence must not be lost. Although our way of drinking tea today differs from that of the ancients, the tranquility and health brought by tea are eternal.
Modern science has confirmed much of the wisdom found in ancient practices of drinking tea for health. For example, the natural components of Pu-erh tea help maintain cardiovascular health; tea polysaccharides are traditionally considered suitable for daily consumption, and caffeine can promote metabolism. These are all modern verifications of the thousands of years of tea-drinking experience passed down by our ancestors. Therefore, drinking tea for health is not a superstition, but a scientifically grounded good habit.
Tea comes in different grades, yet it is accessible to all, regardless of social standing. Whether it was the Long Ma trademark or the Double Lion Flag design, the quality of Tong Qing tea has always remained consistent. This tells us that while external packaging may change, the internal commitment to quality must remain unshakable. The same applies to how we conduct ourselves and our work: our outward appearance can evolve with the times, but our inner principles should not be easily altered. Much like when we drink Pu-erh tea, different years yield different flavors, yet the essence of the tea remains the same. This philosophy of change and constancy is worth deep reflection for each of us. In modern society, we are often attracted by various new things, but the most fundamental elements—health, friendship, and family—should never be neglected.
From the Long Ma to the Double Lion, Tong Qing used the change of a single trademark to witness the transition of an era. Behind this transformation lay Tong Qing’s steadfastness in quality and its keen sensitivity to the market. This spirit is something every person in the tea industry should learn from.
“Making friends through tea — please, have a cup.”
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
ZENTEA MANOR
Alliance Supply Chain Services Limited
www.zentea-shop.com
