Nowadays, more and more collectors are turning their attention to the field of Tea wares, gradually integrating Teaware collecting into daily life.

The reason why teaware is so closely tied to everyday life can be attributed to two significant factors. Firstly, the entry barrier for collecting teaware is relatively low compared to traditional collectibles. The price range of teaware is quite broad, from tens of thousands of yuan down to just a few dozen yuan per piece. Secondly, teaware has high practical value. Typically, antiques kept at home are not used but merely appreciated for their ornamental and preservation value. Teaware, on the other hand, has functional utility that reduces the risk of purchase for collectors.

In addition to being closely connected to daily life, collecting teaware is also a means of enhancing one's quality of life.

The aesthetic value inherent in teaware is the first aspect to consider. We derive aesthetic pleasure from the appreciation of teaware, which can start with an evaluation of its craftsmanship. Generally speaking, the natural and smooth transitions between points, lines, and surfaces on teaware are crucial to its overall character. Taking a Yixing clay teapot as an example, the spout, rim, shoulder, body, base, spout, and handle are the basic areas for assessment; in terms of details, one can scrutinize the button, lid, spout, base, transition, handle base, and inner circle of the handle.

Beyond form, the engraving and calligraphy on the surface of teaware can greatly enhance its aesthetic appeal. Exquisite engravings and calligraphic designs are fundamental elements that skilled artisans imbue into teaware. If the creation of teaware is by a famous artist, imbued with their personal creative philosophy and spirit, it can acquire cultural significance. For instance, inscriptions on the surface of Yixing Teapots or landscape paintings on porcelain tea sets provide a sense of beauty in daily life through their craftsmanship and artistic value.

Secondly, collecting teaware plays a role in cultivating one's character and calming the mind in daily life. Through playing with and nurturing teaware, as well as enjoying the sensory experience during tea drinking, one can alleviate stress and achieve a soothing effect on the eyes and mind.

When literati became involved in tea-drinking rituals, teaware emerged with a refined, exquisite, and elegant form, becoming a cherished object in the hands of literati. The Jia Cha Jian describes the Ming Dynasty practice of playing with tea pots: “Tea pots are best when made of kiln ware, and small ones are especially prized. Each guest should have their own pot, allowing them to pour and drink at will, to fully appreciate the fun of it.”

Yixing clay teapots were discovered by tea enthusiasts during the mid-Ming period. Their clay quality lies between pottery and porcelain, warm and rustic, fitting the temperament of literati, hence they were favored by them. They needed to be handled daily, warmed by body heat, to attain a lustrous appearance.

Chen Mansheng

In earlier times, Chen Mansheng designed teapot shapes and invited the master artisan Yang Pengnian to craft teapots according to his designs. The teapots made by Yang Pengnian were highly praised by Chen Mansheng. The seemingly casual creases on these exquisite teapots became a source of joy for Chen Mansheng while playing with them.

Mansheng Eighteen Styles

Today, in addition to continuing this tradition of playing with teapots, people also commonly enjoy nurturing teapots as a pastime. Collected Yixing teapots can be nourished daily with tea water, and over time, they develop a “purple jade-like exterior and a sky-blue interior,” emitting a “subtle glow visible like a mirror.” Over time, the bond between the tea enthusiast and the teapot deepens, a taste that cannot be adequately described to outsiders.

Experiencing the texture of teaware with one's hands is a form of enjoyment. Moreover, our five senses can savor tea culture through teaware during daily tea drinking.

As the saying goes, Yixing clay teapots are the best, while white and pure white cups are ideal. To observe the color of tea, white porcelain is most suitable, a visual delight. The sound of water entering the teapot is pleasing to the ear, aural enjoyment. The aroma of steeped tea in a Yixing teapot can be gently smelled before drinking, olfactory enjoyment. And tasting the tea after smelling it is gustatory enjoyment. The utilization of teaware in tea drinking allows the five senses to experience this leisure activity more directly. These experiences can also help clear the mind and uplift the spirit, allowing the tea enthusiast to gain insights and achieve mental relaxation.

Thus, the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind experience concrete sensations thanks to the impetus of teaware collecting. Furthermore, the philosophical implications contained within this process are revealed, embodying Buddhist principles and enlightenment.

Finally, teaware as an element of interior design adds a classical touch to living spaces.

Teaware played a pivotal role in the lives of literati and scholars during the Song and Ming dynasties. The four arts of “incense burning, tea brewing, hanging paintings, and flower arranging” of the Song dynasty continued into the Ming dynasty. Ming literati regarded tea tasting as a high art of living. They expressed their devotion and enthusiasm for tea through the standardization of tea utensils, number of participants, environment, and atmosphere, and they favored a romantic style of space construction. This is why the independent structure of tea rooms became possible later on.

To this day, Japan still widely preserves old-style tea rooms. They strive for a realm of “harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility” in creating the ambiance of tea rooms. In designing tea room spaces, the contradiction between closure and openness is harmoniously integrated. While controlling the size of the space, they allow openness in approaching nature and gaining insight. The elaborate etiquette established in tea rooms highlights the spirit of tea enthusiasts, reflecting a collective national ethos; yet beneath this rigor, there is a leisurely elegance of “one-time, one meeting,” expressing reverence and closeness to nature.

Currently, the teahouse lifestyle of literati and scholars is being increasingly emulated and pursued by modern people. They recreate the simple and elegant scenes of the past through the collection and display of teaware. They also use tea (teaware) as a medium for social gatherings, making interpersonal exchanges more sincere and benevolent.

Teaware collecting makes artworks more accessible to everyday life, gradually evolving into a lifestyle. The tea philosophy conveyed through it subtly influences people's habits, attitudes, and thinking in daily life.

Discovering beauty in daily life is the essence of conveying artistic concepts, often containing the most unadorned cultural connotations. Te