I have a pot made of decent clay, not expensive, and not the best in appearance, but because I bought it early on, it's the one I've used the longest, nurtured to great beauty, and naturally my favorite. No matter who comes or how much they offer, I won't sell it.

I believe many true lovers of pots have such a pot. It may not be the best in their collection, but it's their favorite, the most comfortable to use and pleasing to the eye. They wouldn't dream of giving it away or selling it, even if there are some minor flaws. They want to keep it in their hands forever, playing with it and using it.

Every pot enthusiast will come across a pot they truly love. brewing Tea with the pot and Steeping the pot in tea, the person nurtures the spirit of the pot, and the pot nurtures the humanity of the person, becoming like an old friend, hard to part with…

Pots come in three categories: for practical use, for appreciation, and for collection.

Generally speaking, when buying a pot, it all boils down to the type of clay, shape, craftsmanship, and style. For those who enjoy Drinking Tea quietly, a pot made from purple clay is sufficient. They might then consider the craftsmanship and choose a shape. Collectors, however, not only pick the pot but also focus more on the potential of the maker and the market trends.

In terms of “playing,” the middle ground has the most depth. Selecting the type of clay, shape, craftsmanship, and style is just the first step. The real “play” begins when you get a fine pot. Besides daily infusions of good tea, there's the gentle touch of your hand, which changes its color day by day and brings new sensations year after year. One can “ponder the past in leisure and listen to the wind in silence.”

Ultimately, “playing” reaches a level of interaction between person and pot, where the person nurtures the spirit of the pot, and the pot nurtivates the humanity of the person. Both purify each other and are refined together. When it comes to the concept of “play” with purple clay pots, there's actually an explanation: play means nurture. There are two aspects of nurturing: tea nurturing, which enhances appearance, color, and spirituality; and human nurturing, which develops spirit, character, and sensation. If it were just for fun, we probably wouldn't have so many excellent pieces from our predecessors today.

A fine pot is no vulgarity, which is a unique characteristic of purple clay pots. True enthusiasts of purple clay, when using these pots, rinse them, scald them, rinse again, and scald again. Over time, it feels more like steeping the pot in tea. While drinking tea, it seems as though one is savoring the pot itself. People drink tea, and so does the pot. As a result, the purple clay pots in the hands of enthusiasts become increasingly appealing as they are nurtured. The patina that envelops the entire pot, neither glaze nor porcelain, is lustrous and warm, as if time itself has settled upon it, earning the reputation of “an old pot surpassing porcelain.”

Compared to recent innovations in gilding and inlaying new purple clay pots with gold and jade for speculative purposes, traditional old pots are not only practical and attractive, but the ultimate elegance they achieve further highlights the soft approach of Chinese purple clay culture.

I always feel that playing with a purple clay pot is fundamentally different from other art collectibles. It is an art that can be cultivated with heart. The charm, imagination, and sensation of the pot—aren't these all the results of interactions with people?