Since the 15th Century, prized for their elegance and exceptional tea brewing capabilities. Made of yixing unglazed clay, they absorb teas' essential oils and improve ensuing brews.
The Xishi yixing teapot is the quintessential model and the most popular style of Yixing clay teapot. It boasts a round and plump body, a cut lid, a short spout, and an inverted handle. The pot's body resembles the full breast of a young woman, while the knob on the lid is shaped like a nipple. The bottom of the pot curves inward naturally, and the handle is fashioned like an upside-down ear, reminiscent of the hairstyle of ancient Chinese women. When pouring tea, the handle resembles the slender waist of a beautiful woman. The Xishi teapot is renowned for its unique ability to brew tea, allowing the tea leaves to fully expand and release a more intense aroma and flavor.
Pear-shaped yixing teapot,it is one of the pot styles that originated in the Chian Yuan Dynasty and became popular during the China Ming Dynasty. It is named after its pear-like shape.
A flattened persimmon-shaped teapot is called a "Short Pan," a slightly taller and flattened spherical-shaped teapot is called a "Medium Pan," and a teapot with a taller and pear-shaped body is called a "Tall Pan." When their daughters got married, they would give a Pan teapot as part of their dowry, hoping that their daughters would be able to live a prosperous life like "Pan Shicheng" who the inventor of the "pan" teapot. teapots that are passed down as part of the dowry are not necessarily used for brewing tea, but can also be placed on dressing tables to hold hair oil. After the female owner passes away, they are often used as burial objects to show gratitude to her family for raising her.
A flattened persimmon-shaped teapot is called a "Short Pan," a slightly taller and flattened spherical-shaped teapot is called a "Medium Pan," and a teapot with a taller and pear-shaped body is called a "Tall Pan." When their daughters got married, they would give a Pan teapot as part of their dowry, hoping that their daughters would be able to live a prosperous life like "Pan Shicheng" who the inventor of the "pan" teapot. teapots that are passed down as part of the dowry are not necessarily used for brewing tea, but can also be placed on dressing tables to hold hair oil. After the female owner passes away, they are often used as burial objects to show gratitude to her family for raising her.
"Meirenjian" yixing teapot resembles an ancient woman, dignified and lovely, with a hint of palace elegance and grace, yet without losing the charm of a young lady. The shape is full and elegant, mainly reflecting the roundness of the pot body. The pot cover and the pot body seem to be integrated without any gaps. When touched by hand, one can feel its warmth.
"Yuhualong" is a classic yixing teapot shape, meaning "fish leaping over the dragon gate". The small fish-turned-dragon teapot knob made by Tang Shuzhi in the Republic of China is in the shape of rolling clouds, and the pot body is shallowly sculpted with waves. The dragon head protrudes from the waves, and the dragon tail curls into the handle, with clear scales carved on the handle. In the Qing Dynasty, Shao Daxiang's fish-turned-dragon was sculpted in layers of waves, with a strong three-dimensional sense, and the dragon head was short and thick, hidden in the lid without showing its claws. The knob was in the shape of stacked waves. Placing this teapot in the office or at home symbolizes good luck in all things, promotion in work, or academic advancement for students.
The "Banyue" Yixing teapot has always held a special place for its simplicity, elegance, and gracefulness. The "Banyue" Yixing teapot is harmonious, spacious, and concise, with a balance between outward expression and inward restraint. It is like a beautiful piece of writing that becomes more intoxicating with each read. The teapot creates a sense of longing for reunion, as expressed in the Chinese saying, "the bright moon sends thoughts a thousand miles, while the half moon intensifies them even more." The teapot not only speaks of longing but also expresses the traditional Chinese cultural yearning for "full moon, full people." Therefore, the "Banyue" Yixing teapot is a true embodiment of Chinese culture.
"Hehuan" means "all happy",the zisha art master- "Mansheng" was inspired by the beautiful and harmonious sound of the cymbals coming together during the celebration. He believed that this sound brought joy and happiness to people, so he used the shape of the cymbals as a model to design the Hehuan teapot. He named it after the joyous sound they made when struck together, and the teapot's unique shape and design symbolize the harmony and beauty of life.
"Meirenjian" yixing teapot resembles an ancient woman, dignified and lovely, with a hint of palace elegance and grace, yet without losing the charm of a young lady. The shape is full and elegant, mainly reflecting the roundness of the pot body. The pot cover and the pot body seem to be integrated without any gaps. When touched by hand, one can feel its warmth.
"De" means morality，"zhong" means "bell",The bell-shaped lid and body of this zisha teapot symbolize a person with noble character, frugality, and simplicity. Owning this teapot is seen as a sign of being a true gentleman, as it represents the values of humility and refinement.
A flattened persimmon-shaped teapot is called a "Short Pan," a slightly taller and flattened spherical-shaped teapot is called a "Medium Pan," and a teapot with a taller and pear-shaped body is called a "Tall Pan." When their daughters got married, they would give a Pan teapot as part of their dowry, hoping that their daughters would be able to live a prosperous life like "Pan Shicheng" who the inventor of the "pan" teapot. teapots that are passed down as part of the dowry are not necessarily used for brewing tea, but can also be placed on dressing tables to hold hair oil. After the female owner passes away, they are often used as burial objects to show gratitude to her family for raising her.
"Shipiao" Yixing teapot- this zisha teapot is a traditional Chinese tea set characterized by its gourd-like or calabash-like shape, with a small top and large bottom, a sturdy and short spout, and a pyramid-shaped body that exudes elegance. Made from high-quality purple clay material, this teapot is known for its hardness and durability, as well as its stable and easy-to-use design. The short and powerful straight spout ensures a smooth and steady flow of water, while the pyramid-shaped body adds a touch of sophistication to any tea ceremony.
"Lianzi" means Lotus Seed, "lianzi" family has various shapes and forms, which reflects the Buddhist saying "Lotus originates from the heart, and the heart gives rise to infinite forms." the shape of the Lotus Seed was characterized by a straight mouth, drooping shoulders, circular feet, and a round and bulging body with a slightly bulging cover, resembling a lotus seed. Over time, the design evolved from being simple and rustic to being elegant and graceful, with the lid raised and adorned with a bead knob, making it look more towering. A small spout gracefully protrudes from the shoulder of the pot, while the handle is shaped like a woman's arm in a graceful and elegant stance.
"Shipiao" Yixing teapot- this zisha teapot is a traditional Chinese tea set characterized by its gourd-like or calabash-like shape, with a small top and large bottom, a sturdy and short spout, and a pyramid-shaped body that exudes elegance. Made from high-quality purple clay material, this teapot is known for its hardness and durability, as well as its stable and easy-to-use design. The short and powerful straight spout ensures a smooth and steady flow of water, while the pyramid-shaped body adds a touch of sophistication to any tea ceremony.
"Jizhi" yixing teapot has a straight cylindrical body with a shoulder, short neck, and straight spout. The handle is free-flowing and ear-shaped, while the lid fits tightly. The bottom of the pot is neatly crafted with exquisite workmanship. The overall design of the pot displays a strong contrast between thick and thin lines, as well as between straight and curved lines, giving it a deep, simple, and powerful temperament. At the same time, it also exudes a sense of elegance and grace. It seems that the "Jizhi" teapot conveys a spirit of honesty and justice, daring to advise others.
The Melon-shaped Yixing teapot is a classic example of the zisha teapot. It is characterized by its unique shape, which resembles some melon , and is made of purple clay, also known as zisha clay.
"Shipiao" Yixing teapot- this zisha teapot is a traditional Chinese tea set characterized by its gourd-like or calabash-like shape, with a small top and large bottom, a sturdy and short spout, and a pyramid-shaped body that exudes elegance. Made from high-quality purple clay material, this teapot is known for its hardness and durability, as well as its stable and easy-to-use design. The short and powerful straight spout ensures a smooth and steady flow of water, while the pyramid-shaped body adds a touch of sophistication to any tea ceremony.
"Rongtian" yixing teapot takes its inspiration from the "big-bellied" Arhat in Buddhism, named after the saying "a big belly can hold the world's affairs". It is difficult to fully capture the charm of this teapot, as it requires the maker to truly understand its essence. A slightly shorter neck is added to the full-bodied teapot, while the lid is raised to a half-spherical shape, giving it a simple and childlike charm. The teapot has excellent pouring performance and is comfortable to use. Visually, it exudes a dignified and generous aura while embodying depth within simplicity.
The design of the Palace Lamp "Gongdeng" in the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. Its prototype was a lantern, designed by an old man from Tuntou Village. Later, the Tuntou Lantern was presented as a tribute to a county-level official who took it to the palace. The Tuntou Lantern was named "Gongdeng" and became an exclusive item for the imperial palace. Later, people replaced the character "Gong" with "Palace," and it became the "Palace Lamp" we know today. The Palace Lamp teapot is designed based on this lantern, often appearing in a square shape with a fresh, natural, and elegant style that is in line with the aesthetic views of ancient people and easily accepted by modern people.
The eggplant-shaped Yixing teapot is a classic example of the zisha teapot. It is characterized by its unique shape, which resembles an eggplant, and is made of purple clay, also known as zisha clay.
"Shuiping“ zisha teapot-Chinese Kung Fu tea is a traditional brewing method that involves putting a large amount of tea leaves in a teapot and only brewing with boiling water, allowing the tea juice to slowly seep out. To achieve this, the teapot must be placed in a tea bowl or tea sea, with hot water poured around the outside of the teapot, causing it to float in the hot water and allowing the tea juice to be brewed. This requires an exquisite production process, with the clay used for the spout and handle of the teapot being of equal quality. When the teapot floats on the surface of the water, it must maintain a horizontal position without tilting, hence the name "shuiping" teapot.
The design of the Palace Lamp "Gongdeng" in the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. Its prototype was a lantern, designed by an old man from Tuntou Village. Later, the Tuntou Lantern was presented as a tribute to a county-level official who took it to the palace. The Tuntou Lantern was named "Gongdeng" and became an exclusive item for the imperial palace. Later, people replaced the character "Gong" with "Palace," and it became the "Palace Lamp" we know today. The Palace Lamp teapot is designed based on this lantern, often appearing in a square shape with a fresh, natural, and elegant style that is in line with the aesthetic views of ancient people and easily accepted by modern people.
"Duozhi" yixing teapot is a unique and distinctive shape in the world of Yixing zisha teapots. Its shape resembles a pile of spheres and hemispheres stacked together, giving it a unique and eye-catching appearance. The name "Duo Zhi" comes from the Chinese word for "stacking and linking." Due to its unique appearance, this type of teapot is commonly referred to as the "Duozhi teapot." Interestingly, the name "Duozhi" in Chinese also carries a positive connotation, meaning "many children, much happiness." This adds to the charm and appeal of this teapot, making it a popular choice for collectors and tea enthusiasts alike.
