The Shibi pot is something everyone is familiar with, and there are many types of Shibi pots, such as the Ziyi Shibi, Jingzhou Shibi, Xinzhou Shibi, Hantang Shibi, and Pinggai Shibi, to name a few.

But do you know how the Shibi pot gradually came into view?

In ancient times, the Shibi pot was known as the “Shidiao” pot. The Dongpo Shibi, Tiliang Shibi, Ziyi Shibi, and Xinzhou Shibi are all names given by later generations.

The progenitor of the Shibi pot, the Dongpo Shibi, was designed by Su Dongpo in the Northern Song Dynasty. At that time, it was still called a Shidiao. Later, it was acquired by You Yin, a painter from the Qing Dynasty, who created the painting “Plum Blossom Shidiao.”

You Yin's “Plum Blossom Shidiao” influenced many people. During the Qing Dynasty, Chen Mansheng discussed Teapots with his friend Jiang Tingxiang, using the Shidiao shape as inspiration for the Mansheng Tiliang pot. He later created the Mansheng Shibi pot.

Mansheng Tiliang (Tang Yun Collection)

Mansheng Shibi (Tang Yun Collection)

Also during the Qing Dynasty, Qu Yingzhao (courtesy name Ziyi) created the Ziyi Shibi, which was introduced to the world.

Simultaneously in the Qing Dynasty, He Xinzhong designed a Shibi pot known as the Xinzhong Shibi.

In modern times, Gu Jingzhou, referencing the phrase “three thousand rivers of weak water, but I only drink one scoop,” changed the name of the Shidiao pot to Shibi pot. His design, the Full Scoop, is now known as the Jingzhou Shibi.

Gu Jingzhou's apprentice, Master Xu Hantang, a current National Master, designed the Hantang Shibi.