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The History of
Yixing Purple Tea Pot
About the origin of the
Yixing Purple tea pot
Yixing,a picturesque city,is
located on the Taihu Lake on Jiangsu province, China.The city is
famous for its plentiful products,fertile land.rich resources
and outstanding talents,Of the products,the most charming is
ceramics.Based on the textual and archaeological researches in
neolithic Age as far 5000 years ago,the forefathers of Yixing
were engaged in the farming and the pottery marking.Recent years
have often found some ruins of ancient pottery workshops and
kilns in its territory,in Yixing Ding Shu Town,There are 5
neolithic site(5000 years ago),3 Han Dynasty Kiln
site(Before206-A.D.220), 3 Six Dynasty
Kilns(A.D.420-A.D581),9 Sui Dynasty,Tang Dynasty
kilns(A.D.581-A.D.907),20 Song Dynasty,Yuan Dynasty
kilns(A.D.960-A.D.1368).60 Ming Dynasty,Qing Dynasty
kilns(A.D.1368-A.D.1911).One of the Tang Dynasty's Dragon
kiln,lie east of Ding Shu Town,there are 700 square meter ,80
stere ,have quite fire ware ability,so Yixing purple tea pots
was produced base long pottery tradition in Yixing.
Another important diathesis ,Yixing
is a famous tea area in China ancient,one kind of Yixing tea (call:Yun
Wu Tea)was as palace tea on Tang Dynasty early,The quantity is
over 5000 kgs,On Tang Dynasty,There are ten thousands tea
workers for pick tea every year, there are 30 tea
factories,China' famousest tea master Mr Lu Yu come to Yixing
for drink tea time after time on Tang Dynasty.
The most important diathesis is
that rare purple clay was found in the mountain of Ding Shu Town
in Yixing,The purple clay have very unique characteristic ,it is
the best material for tea pot on this world.(Please
read unique purple clay),in 1976,One Song Dynasty Dragon
Kiln was found on Yiang Jiao Mountain of Ding Shu Town,many
purple clay fragmentary purple tea pot pieces were unearthed,(please
see pictures).It is also affirmed by Song Dynasty poem,some
Song Dynasty’s poem mentioned purple clay tea pot,so it is
accepted that Yixing purple clay tea pot was produced on Song
Dynasty midterm time.but some specialists thinked it was
produced on Ming Dynasty.Mr Zhou Gao Qi,one writer live on Ming
Dynasty,who has writed <<Yang Xian Tea Pot
series>>,(PS:Yixing was call"Yang Xian" in
ancient>>,this the earlies book that special describe the
originate and technology feature of yixing purple clay tea
pot,with purple clay material.To the origins of purple tea
pot,he told us:”one white foot monk who live in Jing Sha
temple in Ding Shu,he like study pottery with potters,slowly
original create simple and unique tea pot with purple clay for
own enjoy it,(PS,there are many temples in China ancient,many
monks enjoy tea use bowl on there,but it is very regret that
people can not find his tea pot on this world)Mr Wu Yu Shan,a
Jing Si(college student)in Zhen De Year Ming Dynasty(1514),Come
to Jing Sha temple for his study, Gong Cun who his servant come
to there also,in carefree time,Gong Cun study make purple tea
pot under the monk,he imitated one old tree side the temple and
made unique Gong Cun pot,(PS:This pot is collected in China
History Museum now,the cover have losed,the cover was added by
Qing Dynasty Master Wang Yu Ling,(please
see picture), so people think Gong Cun is founder of yixing
purple tea pot usual.
The developing of Yixing purple
tea pot on Ming Dynasty
1965,one purple tea pot was
unearthed in the ancient tomb in Nang Jing city,(see
picture),the man of the tomb is Wu Jing,who was a eunuch of
Ministry of Rites in Jia Jing Year Ming Dynasty(1533),1991,one
purple tea pot was unearthed in a ancient well in the famous Nan
Chan temple in Wuxi,this tea pot is very alike with that pot in
Wu Jing tomb on the purple material and made technology.many
porcelains of Zheng De year Ming Dynasty were unearthed together
this pot.(see
picture).
On early Ming Dynasty,the most
famous masters are Zhao Liang,Dong Han,Yuan Chang,Shi Peng.they
are live on Jia Jing year and Long Qing year in Ming
Dynasty.Main design is Ti Liang Tea Pot.
From Wan Lie Year Ming Dynasty to
Ming Dynasty last stage,Many masters were produced in China,The
most famous is Mr Shi Da Bing(Shi Peng’s son),who has a very
high status on that time,it isn’t easy to got his pot,even a
great officer.
It was found only 7 pieces in
China to really Shi Da Bing’s tea pot(don’t need argue
it),there are only 15-20 pieces in abroad ,Shi Da Bing was very
strict to made tea pot,the tea pot will be broken if it isn’t
satisfy.Many master copied Shi Da Bing’s pot in Qing
Dynasty,include some famous great masters.
Second famous master is Hui Meng
Cheng in Ming Dynasty,other great masters are Li Mao Ling,Li
Zhong Fang,Xu You Quan,Ou Zheng Cun,Shao Weng Jing,Shao Wen
Ying,Jiang Bo Kua,Cheng Xing Qing,Cheng Guang PuCheng Jun
Qing,Cheng Zi Qi,etc.
Tea culture happened change in
Ming Dynasty also,the people replaced tea bowl with tea pot,
replaced boil tea with make tea in hot water.replace the cake
ferment tea with the bulk fresh tea.replace big tea pot of early
Ming Dynasty with smaller tea pot due to small tea pot better
keep the tea’s fragrance.the most of the people think Purple
tea pot cut down those tea pot of silver, stannum, copper.The
purple tea pot have become the need of the bookmans and scholar-bureaucrats.many
of them have start collected the purple tea pots.
The thriving and prosperous of
purple tea pot from Qing Dynasty to early the Repbulic of China.
Qing Dynasty is the gold era of
the purple tea pot, although it is not as good as the porcelain
tea ware from Jing De Town,but it’s designs are more rich than
porcelain tea ware,showed it’s unique individuality and
elegant demeanour.The decorate technology of the purple tea pot
arrived at high level, besides carved calligraphy,there are clay
painting,carved painting,colour glaze painting,basso-relievo,
stack clay painting,stick clay painting, mill clay painting,
inlay clay, inlay gold, hollow out, bind up gold, bind up
silver, bind up lacquer, burnish,etc.more purple tea pot have
entered to the palace where the emperor lived as the articles of
tribute in early Qing Dynasty.(In Fact,Purple tea pot have
already entered to the palace in Wan Lie year Ming
Dynasty(1570),because of one tea pot by Shi Da Bing made was
found in the Imperial Palace),
Kang Xi,one earliest emperor in
Qing Dynasty,he are very like purple tea pot and tea bowl,but he
like add colour enamel on it for let they are more showily,and
he refused the seal of makers on the purple tea pot,only showed
the title of the emperor's reign,This rule was continued to Yong
Zheng emperor and Qian Long emperor.so you will can not see the
seal of maker to the palace purple tea pot in early Qing
Dynasty,only have the title of an emperor's reign.(please
see the purple tea ware that Kang Xi emperor used ever)
Yong Zheng emperor were very
interested in the designs of purple tea pot,he commanded myself
imitate the designs of purple tea pot to make porcelain tea
ware,silver tea ware, copper tea ware,(it was proved by the
original record in Yong Zheng 11 year,No.3360), although Yong
Zheng emperor live only 13 years,but there are many Registers
about purple tea pot in his record.
The most of the palace purple tea
pots are Qiang Long emperor era,Qiang Long emperor like drink
tea on his whole life, even if on the time when he went on his
six time tour of inspection.He said ever:”The emperor can not
stop tea to any day),so he more like purple tea pots,(please
see the purple tea pot that Qian Long emperor used),he
ordered carve his poem on the purple tea pot,so the most of the
palace purple tea pot showed Qian Long’peom on them in Qian
Long era.Qian Long emperor ordered also made special tea ark for
put purple tea ware when tour.(please
see pictures).Qiang Long emperor advocated his people use
purple tea pot,so purple tea pot were very fashionable on Qiang
Long era and a long time after Qian Long.
After Qiang Long,more purple tea
pots entered to the palace,it was not already restricted to the
seal of makers,so you can easy find many purple tea pots with
the seal of famous great master in the the Imperial Palace to
those palace purple tea pots that after Qian Long Emperor.
In Kang Xi emperor 24
year(1685),Kong Xi emperor agreed make businee with oversea,so
purple tea pot export to Europe with Chinese tea,quickly purple
tea pot was attracted and welcome by Europe people,they praised
it as “Red Porcelain”, early or late, Portugaler,
Hollander,German made their pottery tea ware copy this “Red
Porcelain”,(Please
see pictures)in 1711,Mr Bo Te Ge,one famous potter from
German,succeed made 2000 pcs red pottery tea pot imitate yixing
purple teapot,and writed disquisition <<Red sand
porcelain>>,There is one Yixing Purple tea pot that was
collected in the state museum of denmark,which was used by the
king of denmark in 1674.Yixing purple tea pot was exported to
Japan, East-South Asia, Central America etc contries on 17
century and 18 century.
In early days of Qing Dynasty,The
most famous great master is Mr Cheng Ming Yuan,it was recorded
in <<Yang Xian Famous potters>> by Wu Qian in
1786(PS:Yixing is call “Yang Xian in Ancient),Wu Qian think
that Cheng Ming Yuan’s tea pot is the best on one hundred
years history,he was exceed all tea pots of three era, it was
equal with Shi Da Bing.It has been proved ,the carved
Calligraphy on the Cheng Ming Yuan’s tea pots were writed by
famous calligrapher Mr Cao Qian Rang,this modus operandi was
continued to now all along,many famous literators,painters,and
politicians like to writed their epigraph on the purple tea pot
for rise it’s value.even they invited some great master to
their home for made purple tea pot for them,let the masters
enjoy those antique they collected,
Other great masters are Zheng Nin
Hou,Wang Nan Ling,Yu Rong,Shao Yu Ting,Shao Xi Mao,Cheng Ying
Qian,Cheng Han Wen,Yang Ji Cu,Zhang Huai Reng,Yang Ji Yuan,Yang
You Lan,Shao Ji Zu,Shao De Xing,Cheng Weng Bo,Cheng Weng
Ju,Cheng Ci Wai,Xu Weng Long etc.
In the medium-term and later
period in Qing Dynasty,the most exponent is Man Sheng pot that
was cooperate made by Cheng Man Sheng and Yang Peng Nian.Yang
Peng Nian made pot, epigraphed by Cheng Man Sheng who was a
famous calligrapher and painter. so the “Man Sheng pot”was
very rare on then, afterward,Yang Bao Nian(Yang Peng Nian’s
brother)and Yang Feng Nian(Yang Peng Nian’s sister)help Yang
Peng Nian made “Man Sheng Pot”, usually Cheng Man Sheng’s
seal is on the bottom of the pot,the seal of Yang Peng Nian is
on the bottom of the cover and handle,his seal is smaller than
Cheng Man Sheng’s.We think it is not candid to Yang Peng Nian
who a famous master.
Another great master is Shao Da
Heng,his famous tea pot is the Eight Diagrams bundle bamboo pot
and fish dragon pot,Mr Huang Yu Ling is a outstanding master
after Shao Da Heng,
Other masters are Wu Yue Ting,Ge
Ming Xiang,Feng Cai Xia,Deng Kui,Jiang Yu Ling,Zhu Shi Mei,Shao
Er Quan,Sheng Xi,Shao She Da,Shao You Ting,He Xing Zhou,Wu A
Kun,Sheng Rui Tian,Jing Shi Hun,Fan Da Sheng,Cheng Bo Ting,Fan
Die En,Cheng Shou Fu,Jiang Wan Feng,Jiang Zheng Xian,Shi Bao Fen
etc.
On the last stage of Qing Dynasty
to the early days of the Repbulic of China,it is a prosperous
period to yixing purple tea pot, some ethical capitalist start
to rised for replace the feudal household,mainly in Shanghai.
Those dealers appeared in Shanghai,for deal yixing purple tea
pot,they made-order purple tea pot in Yixing,as a result,it
bring on some great masters were come forward,
The most accomplishment are Cheng
Shou Zheng,Yu Guo Liang,and Pei Shi Ming,Cheng Shou Zheng’s De
ball pot and archaize pot were took gold award on the Panama
international exhibition in 1919,he is the first master who took
gold award on the international in purple history.Through the
hard work by zisha pottery artists and masters of different
generations,the zisha pottery tea pot present their rich culture
and artistic quality to world and gain very great prestige by
showing their special charm.For example,at the beginning of the
20th century,they were awarded first prize at Panama
International Exposition,and excellence and gold prize at
Chicago Exposition,London Arts Exhibition and Philadelphia
International Arts Exposition
It is developmental still to
purple tea pot before the War of Resistance Against
Japan(1937),according to the record,there are 40 sites dragon
kilns for special fire purple tea pot in the eare of Ding
Shan,Shu Shan in 1919,it rised to 63 site in 1929,it rised again
to 76 sites in 1936,1936 is the blossomest year in the period of
the Repbulic of China,the fired kiln time was 4740 time for one
year,produced two million piece purple tea pots.the purple tea
pot’s shop were set up in many cities,such as Shanghai,Hang
Zhou,Wuxi,Tiang Jing,Qing Dao etc cities.even some branch stores
were set up on Japan, Singapore, Filipine.they main are Cheng
Ding He Company,Wu De Sheng Company,Tie Hua Xuan Company,Ge De
Company, and Li Yong Company.there are two seals at least to
those purple tea pots in this period,one is the seal of
maker,another is the seal of the shop.
The status after from 1937
when the War of Resistance
Against Japan(1937),yixing purple tea pot product was destroyed
,many masters have to go into exile,the most kilns were
desolation.
After 1949,the people were
liberated,the product of the yixing purple tea pot was
renewed,many masters returned to yixing,the state factories wer
set up for special produce purple tea pots,the designs of the
purple tea pot grow to hundres kinds,many excellent craftsmans
were appeared,the most famous great master is Mr Gu Jing
Zhou(1915-1992),one of his purple tea pot was sold out on
USD65,000 on Macao in 1997,this is the highest price to one
purple tea pot on the modern times.Mr Gu Jing Zhou is
appellatived as "leading scholar of the times"
Another famous great master is
Mrs Jiang Rong(1915-),who the most famous master live in Yixing
now.Her purple tea pot was the State Department premier'gift
when visited to oversea in 1957.
Other great masters are Xu Xou
Tang,Xu Hang Tang,Wang Yian Xian,Lv Yao Cheng,Tan Quan Hai,they
are the rule China industrial arts great masters by the China
State Department awarded.the price of their tea pot is over
USD1,000 at least!from 1980 up to now,Yixing,the artists of
older generation,with the vigor of their youth still
existing,make their artworks still richer in substances and
forms,while the young and mid-aged artists never stop making
exploration and creation in styles and shapes,and this presents
one vast panorama of prosperity in Yixing's ceramic
business,like a hundred flowers blossoming in a garden
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