Traditional Chinese Ceramic Craftsmanship----Zisha （Purple clay）Teaware
Zisha teapots are a traditional Chinese teapot style, said to have originated between the Song Dynasty and the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty. The material used to craft zisha teapots is Yixing zisha clay, a sedimentary rock composed of layered mineral deposits. It consists of flaky purple clay, local green clay, white clay, yellow clay, and red clay, collectively known as zisha clay. Produced in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, it is also known as Yixing Zisha. The unique dual-pore structure of zisha teapots, formed through the combination of clay composition and kiln firing (reduction firing), allows for thorough air permeability. This facilitates active water quality transformation, altering the tea's aroma and flavour. Consequently, tea brewed in these pots becomes increasingly fragrant and mellow, with a lingering, rich taste. Unlike new teapots fired in electric or gas kilns, vintage purple clay teapots develop their patina and lustre entirely through natural ageing—no tea-water rubbing required. Contemporary masterpieces can command prices reaching millions of RMB.
Yixing teapots from Jiangsu Province are considered the finest. Tea brewed in a purple clay teapot remains fresh even overnight, whereas tea left overnight in an ordinary porcelain teapot becomes undrinkable. A genuine purple clay teapot develops a slight white powdery coating of nitric oxide upon contact with plain water—this is the patina-forming process. With repeated washing and polishing, its color gradually deepens, developing an oily luster that makes it a true object of appreciation and enjoyment. With prolonged use, a sponge-like substance known as “tea mountain” forms on the inner walls of the pot. Once this develops, even plain boiled water poured from the pot retains the color, aroma, and flavor of tea. Such pots are considered prized by tea connoisseurs.
Zisha teapots largely belong to the realm of literati art, pursuing the same rustic elegance and refined charm sought by scholars of old. Much like literati painting in Chinese art, they integrate poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving into a unified whole. Viewed through the lens of literati art, zisha teapots embody another form of literati painting. Zisha teapots possess collectible value. Historically, works by renowned artisans such as Gong Chun, Shi Dabing, Dong Han, Chen Hongshou, Gu Jingzhou, and Zhu Kexin have become rare treasures, coveted by collectors.
From the late 17th century, teapots underwent a new transformation in appearance, emphasizing decorative elements and innovation on their surfaces. By the early 18th century, this trend gained widespread popularity; artisans no longer focused solely on the vessel's form but experimented with diverse techniques to craft purple clay teapots. These included painting with different clays, applying raised floral designs, attaching appliqué decorations, stamping patterns, or creating intricate openwork carvings.
Among these, teapots crafted by Gong Chun during the Zhengde and Jiajing reigns of the Ming Dynasty are still revered today as masterpieces, known as “Gongchun teapots.” Tea connoisseurs of that era described them as “a deep chestnut hue, like ancient iron, sturdy and well-proportioned.” Wu Meiding's “Ode to Yangxian Porcelain Teapots” records: “My great-uncle Quanshi studied in South Mountain, accompanied by a young attendant named Gongchun. Witnessing locals fashioning clay into vats, he refined the clay into teapots—exquisitely ancient and charming—known as Gongchun teapots.” However, most Gongchun teapots circulating today are replicas, though some imitations command prices reaching HK$200,000.
The products in this shop comes from the Yixing, China. They are selected and certificated by the official instructions. Enjoy it and enjoy the tea time.