Choosing Ceramics: A Reflection on Tea Culture
“器择陶拣，出自东瓯”- 杜育《荈赋》
"Selecting ceramics and picking pottery, originating from Dong'ou" – Du Yu, Chuan Fu
Since ancient times, the choice and use of ceramic tea sets have not only highlighted unique tea-drinking practices across different eras but also reflected the diverse customs and cultures surrounding tea in various regions. Ceramic tea sets embody a profound understanding of tea theory, its characteristics, and tea culture itself.
Before the Han and Wei dynasties, dining utensils, wine vessels, and tea tools were often interchangeable. However, during the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, tea utensils began to separate from other dining ware. By the Song Dynasty, tea sets underwent significant transformation, evolving from the bowls and cups of the Tang Dynasty to the more refined "zhan" (or "zhong"). The five renowned kilns of the Song Dynasty flourished, leading to an evolution in tea sets that greatly influenced the development of tea art and ceremonies. The tea-drinking culture of the Song Dynasty has left a lasting legacy, continuing to play an important role in tea culture today. During the Qing Dynasty, especially under the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong emperors, the production of ceramic tea sets reached unprecedented heights of artistry and craftsmanship.
Yellow Ru Teapot
In Beijing and the southwestern regions, people commonly use ceramic lidded bowls, known as the "three-piece set," which includes a wide-mouthed bowl, a saucer, and a lid.
Fortune, Longevity, Peace, and Health Gaiwan
In Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, Yixing clay teapots have become the preferred choice for brewing tea, or tea is brewed directly in teacups. Yixing teapots are celebrated for their dense, unglazed stoneware that retains the natural color of the clay, effectively preserving the color, aroma, and flavor of the tea during brewing.
The tea culture of the Chaoshan and Minnan regions is characterized by "kung fu tea," often referred to as the "Chaoshan tea ceremony." This ceremony symbolizes the refined lifestyle and elegance of the Chaoshan people. Its brewing process is meticulous and involves ten precise steps, reflecting attention to detail and sophistication, including water temperature control, brewing techniques, and procedures such as secondary heating, shrimp whisk water, tea pressing, measuring tea, warming cups, heating pots, high pouring, low pouring, covering froth, and rinsing the top.
Drinking tea is not merely a physical act; it is a spiritual and artistic experience. The functionality and aesthetic appeal of tea sets are essential elements of tea culture.