Teaware

One, pouring tea over the pot. When brewing tea, some pour tea juice over the pot, believing that this allows the pot to absorb more nutrients, and they neither wipe nor scrub it. Over time, the pot is covered with a layer of tea scale, making its surface unsightly and dark. Two, dry wiping. While brewing tea, take advantage of the pot's heat to pour tea juice over it, and after pouring out the tea juice, use a dry towel to wipe it back and forth. Pots nurtured this way become shiny relatively quickly, but once they are polished, they are most afraid of human sweat and moisture. If the pot comes into contact with either, the luster easily fades, leading to uneven shine on the pot's surface. Three, wet wiping. When the pot is hot, use a towel dipped in tea water to wipe the pot, continuously rubbing it. This method is akin to polishing shoes, applying layers of tea juice onto the pot. Once it shines, if unused for more than six months, the luster gradually fades. Four, frequent brushing. Pour tea water over the pot while it's hot, taking advantage of its absorption, and frequently brush it…

The late renowned painter Mr. Tang Yun, not only excelled in painting but was also a famous expert in cultural relics appraisal at home and abroad. Before his passing, he was a member of the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee. He had a particular fondness for Yixing purple clay teapots and owned more than ten of the famous "Mansheng Teapots," with both the quantity and quality of his collection unparalleled in the world. The actual number of surviving "Mansheng Teapots" may not be very scarce, for two reasons: firstly, they were made during the relatively recent Qing Dynasty period of Qianlong and Jiaqing; secondly, the original production quantity was large, numbering in the thousands. However, those we can see today are extremely rare. I recently went through auction catalogs from major Beijing auction houses over the past few years and did not find a single "Mansheng Teapot," which is quite puzzling. Perhaps it's because collectors cherish them as treasures and are unwilling to part with them. The so-called "Mansheng Teapot" originated with Chen Hongshou (1768-1822), known by his pen name Mansheng, a famous scholar from Qiantang, Zhejiang, who lived during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty. Alongside…

The gloss of a Zisha teapot, also known as "water color," can appear lustrous or dull. What causes this difference? Is it the clay, the craftsmanship, or something else?... (Close-up) After a Zisha teapot is fired to crystallization, surface contraction forms wrinkles. Most light is absorbed by these wrinkles, which is why new Zisha teapots appear relatively dim compared to other objects. Only a small portion of light is reflected from the crystalline surfaces, making the pot visible. After a period of care and use, tea and oils are adsorbed onto the different depths of the wrinkles, increasing the density of reflective points. Since these reflections come from various depths, the light appears to have depth, resembling a luminous cloud. The light scattered from crystalline points also creates an effect similar to a misty glow. Thus, genuine Zisha teapots do not appear overly bright and are not glaring under strong light, giving off a warm and lustrous feeling. Observing the gloss sounds simple but requires experience. A Zisha teapot with good gloss is made from pure, high-quality clay and crafted with skillful techniques at the correct firing temperature: 1. The clay must be pure and of high quality. Only clays…

The main subject of Chinese tea culture is people, and tea exists as an object to serve humans—it is there for our enjoyment. Chinese tea culture is often referred to as a philosophy of beauty. It encompasses the Buddhist aesthetic of circular and ethereal beauty, the Taoist sense of profound and expansive beauty, as well as the Confucian elegance and subtlety. So, what tools should one prepare for brewing gongfu tea? 1. Tea Placement Tools ① Tea Scoop: A tool used to transfer tea from the tea canister into the teapot. ② Tea Spoon: Used to transfer tea leaves from the scoop into the teapot. ③ Tea Funnel: Placed over the teapot mouth to guide the tea in and prevent leaves from spilling outside. ④ Tea Presentation Dish: A multi-functional tool that not only serves the functions of the above three but also allows you to observe the shape of the tea, judge the quantity, and smell its dry aroma. ⑤ Tea Pestle: Used to break long tea leaves in the presentation dish to make them easier to put into the pot. ⑥ Tea Caddy: Small canisters for portioning out tea leaves. 2. Tea Management Tools ① Tea Tongs: Used…

All things in this world are truly complementary and contradictory, "Brother Fine Tea" since meeting "Sister Purple Clay," it's like a "lover" meeting his "pretty maiden," they are destined to be together forever, loving tea doesn't necessarily mean loving purple clay, but those who love purple clay will certainly love tea. Regardless of whether you love purple clay because of your love for tea or vice versa, once you're in love, no one can unravel this triangular relationship, the love, hate, affection, and resentment are not just a matter of "fate." Playing with pots should be done with a content and happy mindset. You must know that "there are countless good pots in the world, and it's impossible to collect them all in one lifetime." Many pots existed before you were born which you never got to see, many more you couldn't get after you were born, and even more masterpieces will remain out of reach after you pass away. Why worry about temporary gains and losses? Life is short, and we can only say "once had" about worldly matters, there's no such thing as "eternal." Which of the famous pots that have survived through the ages hasn't changed hands…

Chinese people have a long-standing obsession and fascination with certain colors. One is the "sky-blue color waiting for rain" of the Ruyao "qing," while the "qing" of Longquan celadon is another. The green mountains yield celadon from Longquan, and over two thousand years ago, the people of Zhejiang's Longquan began writing the legendary history of creating celadons. Whether it is the layered green glaze colors, the interwoven textures of the porcelain shards, or the rounded and unique shapes, Longquan celadon always precisely stirs the Chinese sense of "beauty." The ceramic authority Chen Wanli once said: "Half of China's ceramic history lies in Zhejiang; half of Zhejiang's ceramic history lies in Longquan." The production of Longquan porcelain has a long history. It is the capital of celadon and swords, a national historical and cultural city, and a national advanced city in culture. Longquan got its name from a sword. During the Spring and Autumn period, Ouyezi cast three swords in Longquan, naming one "Longyuan," which became the place name. Later, to avoid offending the Tang Dynasty's founder, Li Yuan, it was changed to Longquan. During the Three Kingdoms and Jin periods, local residents relied on natural conditions to fire celadon. At…

The Southern Song Dynasty: Zhou Jichang, Lin Tinggui, et al., “Arhats Drinking Tea” Have you watched the recent hit Song Dynasty drama, "Dream of the Red Chamber"? Actress Liu Yifei plays the lead character Zhao Pan'er, who is the owner of Zhao's Teahouse and stuns viewers with her fluid tea preparation skills in her first appearance. From a tea enthusiast's perspective, the most captivating aspect of "Dream of the Red Chamber" is its portrayal of "tea culture," filled with ancient charm and texture, with tea utensils and tea-making techniques largely true to Song Dynasty style. Let’s now appreciate the exquisite saucers used by ancient people for drinking tea. In the Song Dynasty, tea was prepared by "beating and stirring" using a tea whisk to stir and strike the tea broth; saucers were designed to prevent scalding hands. Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty: Gilt Silver Flower and Bird Patterned Tea Saucer and Saucer – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Collection Ruyao Porcelain Northern Song Dynasty: Ruyao Sky Blue Glazed Paulownia Petal Shaped Saucer – British Museum Collection Guan Porcelain Song Dynasty: Guan Porcelain Celadon Saucer – Palace Museum Southern Song Dynasty Guan Porcelain Saucer - Excavated from the Southern Song…

Tieguanyin, a traditional Chinese tea, belongs to the Oolong category and is one of China’s top ten famous teas. It is classified as a semi-fermented tea. Many people enjoy drinking Tieguanyin. If you're going to brew Tieguanyin, I would recommend trying a Zhu Ni (Red Clay) teapot. Zhu Ni and Tieguanyin are often paired together, making the Zhu Ni teapot the preferred choice for brewing Tieguanyin. Zhu Ni teapots have a high density and contraction ratio, which enhances the aroma of the tea. Using this teapot results in a tightly bound, smooth tea soup with a long-lasting aftertaste and strong sweetness. The characteristics of the teapot are quite unique. Six One Hall Dahongpao Cigar Section A Zhu Ni teapot of around 200 ml is more suitable for drinking Tieguanyin. The teapot can quickly reach a high temperature, which meets the requirements for brewing Tieguanyin. In addition to Zhu Ni teapots, Zi Ni (Purple Clay) teapots are also good due to their broad applicability. How to store Tieguanyin? There are five factors that affect the quality of tea: moisture, temperature, air, light, and odor. Generally, low temperatures and vacuum-sealed storage are required to preserve the color, aroma, and taste of Tieguanyin…

Caring for a pot is like cultivating one’s character; both are long processes. While savoring tea, you also nurture the pot, and in doing so, you also cultivate your own nature. Here are six key points to caring for your pot: New Pot Initial Care After purchasing a new pot, wash off any surface dust and inner clay debris with water or a cloth. Then brew several infusions of tea in the pot and let the residual heat steep the pot until the tea cools slightly. Repeat this process to remove any earthy taste from the new pot and provide it with its first nourishment. After completing these steps, clean the new pot and it will be ready for use. Brewed Tea Nourishment Whether new or old, take the example of brewing black tea. After making tea with boiling water, use the lid to gently skim off any foam that appears at the mouth of the pot. Close the lid for about one to two minutes. Pour the tea from the pot into a decanter with a tea strainer, then distribute the tea from the decanter into individual aroma cups or tasting cups. Pour the tea from the small cups…

In recent years, the Zisha auction market has been thriving with record-breaking prices, and many people are purchasing Zisha teapots as investments. Due to the existence of a professional title system, even contemporary teapots have potential for appreciation in value. For example, if I buy a teapot made by an artisan, and two years later they gain a higher professional title, the value of the teapot naturally increases. However, this has also led to a chaotic market filled with teapots made by proxy. Many of those who produce teapots by proxy have multiple sets of seals, and their works can be found in all shapes and forms on the market: floral, square, ribbed, odd-shaped teapots, as well as various types of clay and craftsmanship. If we think about it carefully, is this possible? Those who know more about Zisha teapots understand that each artisan specializes in their own craft. Apart from exceptional talents like Gu Jingzhou, most artisans only make teapot shapes they are skilled at. In the proxy circle, everyone becomes a Gu Jingzhou, capable of producing any type of teapot. They claim their clays are original mine, but what you end up buying is often left to fate.…

First Stage: Learning and UnderstandingI believe this is a phase that every teapot enthusiast has gone through. All the teapots look great (depending on personal preferences, some prefer square-shaped pots, some like flower-adorned ones, some favor plain ones, and others like those with engravings). During this period, one tends to acquire teapots they like regardless of others' opinions. Due to individual economic differences, these pots can range from tens to thousands in price. Regardless of their cost, the best tea at home is used to honor them, sometimes even becoming an object of constant affection.If a friend says they're not good, one might argue vehemently. If the friend is inexperienced or cannot provide convincing reasons, there will be no regrets about one's choices, and this phase may last longer, with a period of self-indulgence in admiration.If the friend is knowledgeable, one will ponder their words after a debate. To prove who is right, one will read many relevant books and materials, and in doing so, the second stage begins!Of course, some people will immediately look up related information after buying a pot because the names of the styles—like "ancient imitation," "ball stack," "stone ladle," etc.—prompt a desire to know exactly…

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…

For those who love to drink tea, it's natural to explore various tea wares. Tea enthusiasts who own both purple clay teapots and gaiwans may notice differences when using them to steep the same tea – in terms of aroma, color of the tea liquor, and taste. To understand why there are differences in taste, we need to look at the characteristics of purple clay teapots and gaiwans. [Gaiwan] A gaiwan is a traditional Chinese tea ware consisting of a lid, a base, and a bowl. It is also known as the "Three-Talent Bowl" or "Three-Talent Cup," symbolizing heaven with the lid, earth with the base, and humanity with the bowl, embodying the concept of harmony between heaven, earth, and man. The most common type of gaiwan is made of white porcelain, which has a dense body and thick glaze. Feature 1: White Porcelain Does Not Retain Flavors Due to its unique material, white porcelain preserves the purest flavor of the tea but also retains any impurities in the leaves. Feature 2: Easy to Maintain Since white porcelain does not retain flavors, it is easy to clean and can be used for various types of tea without worrying about flavor…