Often, newcomers will ask, “Is a Duanni pot a Zisha Teapot?”

This is because they may have just started learning about Zisha Teapots and do not understand the meaning of zisha clay, assuming that Duanni is not Zisha clay. Zisha clay can be broadly divided into three main categories: Purple Clay (Zini), Duanni, and Red Clay (Hongni). The Purple Clay category can be further subdivided into Dicangqing, Zhongcangqing, Qingshui clay, Laozini, etc. Under the Duanni category, it can be further divided into Benshan Duanni, Benshan Green Clay, Gold Duanni, Laodu, Qingdu, etc. The Red Clay category can be subdivided into Xiaohongni, Zhuni, Dahongpao, etc.

Duanni

So friends might ask: Is Purple Clay better than Duanni or Zhuni?

The quality of a Zisha teapot does not have an absolute relationship with the type of clay used; it depends instead on its craftsmanship and the beauty of its shape. If all are from the original mine, there is no simple distinction between Purple Clay, Duanni, and Zhuni being good or bad; rather, different clays are paired with different pot shapes to achieve varying effects. These three types of clay all belong to the Zisha clay category and are on the same level. Each type of clay has different properties, which result in different outcomes when used.

Purple Clay

If one were to insist on making comparisons, they could only compare within each category. For example, for Purple Clay, judgments would be based on several points: different Purple Clays have different prices, produce different effects when fired, and vary in their rarity. The same applies to Duanni and Zhuni.

The quality of a Zisha teapot mainly depends on the craftsmanship and shape. Most of the clays on the market produce similar effects, but some shapes are more suitable for certain clays, making them look better. For instance, even with the same high-quality clay, a pot made by a skilled artisan will always be better than one made by someone less skilled.

Zhuni

Zisha clay, as long as it is from the original mine, is considered good clay. Each type of clay produces different textures, sandiness, and effects when fired, and these are best showcased when paired with appropriate pot shapes and crafted by skilled artisans, resulting in high-quality teapots.

Source: The Encyclopedia of Zisha Teapots. Information is valuable when shared. Should any copyright issues arise, please contact us for removal.