Chinese Culture | Hello Tea Cup

How Chinese Ceramics Spread Across The World During the Tang Dynasty

teasenz — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:27:59 +0000

The development of ceramics during the Tang dynasty (618 – 907) was an important episode in the history of Chinese ceramics. The ceramics industry was flourishing. The reason for this was not only political stability and social-economic prosperity, but also the development of international trade. The foreign exports of ceramics during this period, whether in terms of quantity or quality, had far surpassed that of the previous dynasties. Like silk and tea, the export of ceramics was also of great significance to China’s overseas trade. Besides economic activity, this also resulted indirectly in political relations and cultural exchange. Main Routes of Foreign Exports of Chinese Ceramics Maritime traffic between China and foreign countries has become increasingly frequent since the Tang Dynasty. A wide variety of commodities and tributes were imported into China by sea and […]

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Tang Tricolor Pottery & Ceramics (Tang Sancai): An In-Depth Guide

teasenz — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 17:06:55 +0000

Tang Tricolor pottery, also called Tang Sancai, is a type of pottery that flourished in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). It is made of white clay and coloured using a glaze containing lead. The glaze uses metals such as iron, copper, manganese and cobalt as colouring agents and is fired at a low temperature of 750-850°C. The glaze has a range of colours like yellow, green, cream, brown, blue and black. As yellow, green and cream were the 3 main colours, such pottery is also known as ‘Tang tricolor’. Recommend: The Rise of White Ceramics during the Sui Dynasty The Achievements of Tang Tricolor Tang Sancai not only broke through the limitations of the previous monochrome glaze, using a variety of glaze colours and techniques to achieve a magnificent and moving artistic effect, […]

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The Rise of White Ceramics Ware During the Sui Dynasty

teasenz — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 08:57:40 +0000

After the Rise of Celadon ware during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD), it was white porcelain that took the spotlight during the Sui Dynasty. In this period (581–618), ceramic artists successfully fired white porcelain, which was largely based on the method of celadon production. Note: White porcelain from this period my also be called white ceramic or simply white ware as according to the Western definition it’s not yet true porcelain. This is because ware from this period where not fully white and translucent. Technically speaking, the secret of firing white ware was mainly a matter of raw material innovation and higher temperature firing. Compared to celadon, the white porcelain glaze contained very little iron, preventing the glaze from darkening. We will use the terms white ware, white porcelain and white ceramic interchangeable in […]

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The Invention of True Celadon in the Eastern Han Dynasty

teasenz — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 07:57:06 +0000

Celadon is known as a kind of ceramic with a colour glaze. Such coating is achieved by applying a liquified clay slip recipe to the ceramic ware before high temperature firing. In this article, we’ll look at when ‘true celadon‘ was invented and the conditions that let to its rise. Primitive Celadon, Shang Dynasty The history of ceramics in China is a long one. As early as 5000 years ago, white pottery made from kaolin clay already existed in China, which was the base material for celadon ware. However, it wasn’t until the Shang dynasty (1600 – 1046 BC), glazed wares close to celadon gradually appeared. As the firing process was still somewhat primitive, the glazed layer wasn’t strong and durable. We therefore call this: ‘primitive celadon‘. True Celadon, Eastern Han By the Eastern Han Dynasty […]

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The Tibetan Legend of Tea & Salt

teasenz — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 10:14:02 +0000

In Tibetan folklore, there is a sad and beautiful love story about tea and salt. This legend is related to the Tibetan customs of using salt in tea, which we’ve recently described in this article: Tibetan Tea Drinking Culture And Customs The Story of Maimeicuo & Wendunba According to the legend, there were two tribes with feud: the Xia tribe living on the east bank of a river and the Nu tribe living on the west bank. Over the years, the two tribes had no intention of reconciling and had cut off all communications. The Tusi (ethnic leader) of the Xia tribe had a daughter, Maimeicuo, who grew up herding sheep on the east bank of the river. The Tusi of the Nu tribe had a son named Wendunba, who also herded sheep, but on the west bank of the river. Two kids saw each other […]

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Tibetan Tea Drinking Culture And Customs

Sonia — Fri, 20 Mar 2020 09:49:52 +0000

Tea has been a daily necessity of the Tibetan people for generations. There’s a saying in Tibetan region: “Better to go three days without grain than one day without tea.” Why is that? Let’s find out now. Why is tea So important in Tibetan Life? Tibetan region is located on the high altitude plateau. People eat lots of meat, cheese products, and highland barley. Yet, due to scarcity people don’t consume much vegetables and fruits. Tea comes as a great supplement for this meat-heavy diet and balances out the oiliness. It also helps enhance the immune system and provides natural antioxidants. In another word, tea is nutritious, refreshing, and a necessity in Tibetan life. Tea is also widely consumed by Tibetan Buddhists to show the effect of spiritual purity. Monks perform their practice and maintain clear thinking with the help of brewing and drinking tea. Tea had long become an indispensable drink […]

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Bamboo in Chinese Tea Culture

teasenz — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 16:13:37 +0000

There’s no doubt about the fact that bamboo has an important status in China. The early Chinese ancestors already discovered that bamboo, which grew in abundance, could be used to make different kinds of utensils and handicrafts. In this article, we’re going to take you on a journey through the landscape of bamboo culture in China. Medium of Communication During the late Shang Dynasty (around 1250 BC), bamboo strips were used as a medium for communication. That’s more than 3000 years ago! They functioned as a medium for stories, poems, official documents, medical records and more. The earliest works of ancient China, including famous book ‘The Art of War‘ by Sun Tzu was in fact also unearthed in form of bamboo slips! At first knives were used to carve characters in bamboo, which was later […]

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Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Origin & Traditions

Sonia — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 16:54:37 +0000

The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节 zhōng qiū jié) is one of most significant festivals in China. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night. The full moon is a symbol of reunion in Chinese culture. A typical scene of the Mid-Autumn Festival is that the family members get together enjoying the full moon while having moon cakes. Not only in China, this festival is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival has a long history in China. Like other traditional festivals, it has gradually developed and evolved. The ancient emperors had this custom & ritual system of worshipping the Spring sun and the Autumn moon. As early as in the classic book Rites of Zhou from 2000 years ago, there […]

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Yixing Zisha Artists And Different Levels

Sonia — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 11:36:23 +0000

If you ask Chinese people what the most prominent tea vessel is in China, most of them will give you the answer “Zisha teapot”. Zisha teapot, made of purple clay unique to Yixing, is also known as Yixing teapot. The special properties of Zisha (purple clay) make it an excellent material for teapots. For example, the porous nature of Zisha teapots not only preserves the full aroma and flavour of the tea, but also enhances them! No wonder Yixing ware is still popular since it first made its name in China, which was nearly 5 centuries ago. The First Yixing Zisha Artist The first recorded Zisha production appeared in the 16th Century, by an artist called Gong Chun (供春). As the first known Zisha artist, he popularized Zisha teapots with distinct style. It was during the Zhengde period of the Ming […]

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The ‘Gong Dao Bei’ (Fairness Pitcher) Was Originally Made for Liquor

Sonia — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 14:54:04 +0000

When we prepare tea the ceremonial way, a tea pitcher is a must. This pitcher is also known as ‘Gong Dao Bei’ (fairness cup). In modern times, this tool makes sure the tea flavor is distributed evenly among each served cup. What even long-time tea lovers don’t know is that the Gong Dao Bei, was also the name of a special kind of cup for liquor in ancient China. It’s a completely different cup! Yet, ‘fairness’ is still the theme behind it. The Design: Dragon Head Cup The design of the liquor Gong Dao Bei is unique. It’s also called the “Dragon Head Cup”, because there is a porcelain dragon head along with the neck attached at the inner bottom of the cup. There is a small 3mm hole at the inner bottom of the […]

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