According to Chinese tradition,
certain teas have medicinal and therapeutic value. For example, pu-erhs
(pronounced "poo-airs") have long been used to ensure regularity,
cut cholesterol, and treat the effects of overindulgence. Dragon Well
(Lung Ching), a well-known and popular green tea, has been drunk
for its cooling effects in hot weather; jasmine tea traditionally has been used
to combat diarrhea.
Increasing scientific interest
in the health benefits of tea has led to contemporary health claims that all
kinds of tea -- both hot and iced -- aid digestion, are antibacterial, and
contain anti-aging properties. Green tea, which contains fluoride, may
combat osteoporosis; it is also a promising cancer-preventative, as it may
be good for blood vessels and tooth care. Both oolong and pu-erh teas are
said to be good for the heart and for reducing high cholesterol. They are
also used successfully as part of slimming and weight-loss regimens.
The Art of Ceramic Teapots
While tea and ceramics have gone
hand in hand in Chinese history, it wasn't until the change from powdered to
leaf tea that teapots were born. Ewers with spouts and handles had existed
in China since ancient times. When the custom of infusing tea leaves took
over, the ewer shape was adapted for tea use. The teapot of the time was
generally broad at the base, with a large spout (to prevent tea leaves from
clogging it) and a handle opposite the spout. The pots themselves were small,
made for individual use. The cups were also small, holding little more than
several tablespoons.
Around 1500 near Yixing
(pronounced "yee-shing"), an area situated 120 miles northwest of
Shanghai in Jiangsu province, a monk created the first teapot of Yixing
"purple sand" zisha unglazed stoneware. Soon thereafter, Gong
Chun, "the father of the Yixing teapot," began creating his masterpieces.
A six-lobe pot bearing his name and the year 1513 can still be seen today.
This tradition of marking the pots with clearly inscribed characters (or
stamping them with a seal bearing the potter's name) continues today and
serves as a reminder of every teapot's individuality and craftsmanship.
Yixing teapots gained wide
popularity in China when it was noted that stoneware keeps tea warmer than
porcelain and better withstands sudden, extreme temperature changes. The
teapots were also exported in large quantities to Japan, where they were
widely imitated. In 1610, the Dutch first imported tea into Europe and
introduced Yixing teapots to the West.
Today, as in certuries past,
the artisans making Yixing teapots serve a long apprenticeship under
established masters, receiving rigorous training in all aspects of their
craft. Each teapot is built by the hands of a single potter artisan, who
beats a lump of prepared and aged clay into a flat sheet. The walls,
bottom, and lid of the teapot are all cut from the clay sheet, sometimes
with the aid of templates. The pieces are assembled on a simple, hand-turned
wheel, stuck together with a mixture of clay and water, and the joints are
strengthed with a spatula. When the decoration, if any, has been cut into the
clay, the teapot is then taken to the kiln master for firing.
For hundreds of years, tea aficionados
have extolled Yixing teapots as superior to all other types for brewing tea.
Minute pores produced in the clay during firing retain both heat and flavor.
In addition, the low shrinkage rate of Yixing clay allows the skillful potter
to make a closely fitting lid that inhibits oxidation, thus heightening the
tea's flavor. These pots are also prized by tea connoisseurs because a
seasoned teapot acquires a flavor of its own, which enhances the tea.
Beyond their simple functionality, Yixing teapots are coveted by collectors
for their whimsical and imaginative beauty, an example of which is the
Bamboo Chair teapot. While modern artisans continue to produce replicas
of old pots (such as the Ming Dynasty and Lotus teapots), they are also
creating new and innovative designs (shown here in the Turning Handle and
Dragon Egg teapots), lending individual character to each teapot. Many
aspects of the Chinese tea culture are beautifully brought to life and
preserved for future generations through the medium of these treasured works
of art.
Rae Stimler is a partner at Holy Mountain Trading Company, an online catalog company specializing in gourmet teas and Asian teaware. Visit the website, http://www.holymtn.com, or call toll-free (888) 832-8008.
December 1997
