The Song Dynasty was an era of cultural rationalism, advocating a philosophy of aesthetics that favored naturalness, restraint, simplicity, and plainness. People pursued elegance and simplicity in Ceramic shapes, shunned excessive decoration, preferred the tranquil and elegant colors of glazes, and valued the aesthetic principle of natural spontaneity.
The Jian zhan features an elegant shape, a rustic body, and a lustrous glaze like stars, perfectly embodying the Song Dynasty's aesthetic of unity between heaven and humanity.
1. Characteristics of the Flaring Mouth Jian Zhan
The Jian zhan is characterized by its graceful and elegant shapes. The most representative form is the flaring mouth zhan, which has an outwardly sloping rim, a constricted mouth, a slightly curved belly, an inward tapering at the base, and a shallow foot ring. About 1 to 1.5 cm below the rim, there is a shallow concave groove that runs around the inside, giving the overall shape a “V”-shaped line.
We know that when two inclined lines are arranged in this way, they create a sense of mutual repulsion and tension, giving the viewer an impression of spaciousness and openness. Moreover, this “V”-shaped line creates a strong contrast in volume, with a large volume at the rim and a small volume at the foot. These two elements complement each other: the smaller volume of the foot highlights the larger volume of the rim, making it stand out more prominently and giving it a clearer visual impact. Conversely, the larger volume of the rim enhances the delicacy and refinement of the smaller volume at the foot, making it appear even more slender and graceful.
In terms of spatial contrasts between solid and void, the flaring mouth zhan's shape features a curved rim with an inwardly constricted edge, forming a shallow concave groove. This creates a corresponding convex circle on the inner wall, and the interplay between these concave and convex lines forms a reasonable balance between solid and void spaces. This balance enriches the form and enhances the characteristics of the vessel.
Looking at the overall effect, the ratio between the belly and the foot of the flaring mouth zhan is well-coordinated, and the outer contour lines are gracefully modulated. The contour curves transition from the outwardly flared rim to the inwardly tapered foot, subtly balancing the expansion and contraction. This gives the entire piece a graceful, beautiful, and elegant charm.
2. Rustic and Hefty Body
The rustic and hefty body of the Jian zhan contrasts harmoniously with its glaze. The body of the Jian zhan is relatively rough and porous. This coarse body contrasts with the smooth and exquisite glaze surface, creating a material contrast that combines coarseness with refinement. Furthermore, the body is often black or brown, similar in color to the glaze, providing a harmonious and unified visual impression.
3. Lustrous Glaze Colors Like Stars
The glaze patterns are a key characteristic of the Jian zhan. The glaze is glossy black, with exquisite and eye-catching patterns, possessing a strong artistic appeal.
Among the most representative glaze colors are: hare's fur, oil spot, or partridge feather patterns.
The hare's fur zhan is the most common high-quality Tea zhan among the black-glazed Jian zhan. The term “hare's fur” refers to the fine, evenly distributed streaks resembling hare's fur that appear in the black or brown glaze. Under the light, these streaks create various dazzling and colorful effects against the black or brown glaze.
The oil spot zhan is another precious variant of the Jian zhan. On a black glaze background, many small, closely packed spots (crystals) are scattered relatively evenly. The name likely comes from the resemblance of the spots on the black glaze to oil droplets on water.
The Jian zhan embodies the spirit of nature worship. The craftsmen first focused on meeting the practical needs of users to the greatest extent possible, then proceeded to artistically process and create Beauty based on this foundation. They skillfully adhered to the principle of combining utility and aesthetics, inadvertently revealing a kind of ingenious and natural beauty.