1. History of Tea Wares
Tea wares have
been used for a long time in Chinea.
In Lu Yu’s Tea
Classics the green porcelain from Shaoxing like crystal or jade with elegant
design and exquisite decoration is described as the best in the Tang Dynasty.
Tea wares made of metals were served and for civilians porcelain and earthen
wares were commonly used.
In the Song
Dynasty, black glazed teacups were preferred, because of the white foam. When
boiled water was added to the teacup the most desirable white foam came up.
Against the black tea ware it was easy to observe.
In the Yuan
Dynasty, Grey/white porcelain tea wares were the best.
At the beginning
of the Ming Dynasty, tea was made up by pouring boiled water onto loose tea
leaves. The tea liquor turned yellowish white, so snow-white teacups replaced
the black-glazed tea ware of the Song Dynasty.
In the middle of
the Ming, with the advent of purple clay tea ware, focus was not limited to the
color contrast of tea liquor and tea ware, but switched to the fragrance and
taste of tea. The production of various teapots came to its pinnacle.
In the Qing
Dynasty, production of white glazed porcelain tea-wares was thriving.
2. Appreciation of the Tea Wares
Tea wares consist
of ovens, tea rollers, teapots, cups, tea bowls, and trays and so on. Among
them tea cups and tea pots are most important.
There are two
stages for people to choose tea cups. One is that before purple clay teapot（Zi Sha Hu）,
attention was paid to the color. For example, Green tea goes with white
porcelain without a cover; scented tea goes with celadon or blue and white
porcelain with a cover. The other is after purple clay teapot, people care
about both color and taste of tea. The harmonious combination of function,
material, and color of tea ware is essential to excellent tea.
3. Production of Tea Wares
JIngdezhen, jin Jiangxi
Provence, is
the porcelain capital. It is known to the world by its grey glazed porcelains
with flower patterns since the Yuan Dynasty. Tea wares made for the royal
family are from Jingdezhen.
Black glazed tea ware from Fujian
is dominant. Purple clay tea wares emerged in Yixing, Jiangsu
Province.
If you want to
know more Chinese Culture, please check http://www.no-1chineselearning.com
