The Southern Song Dynasty: Zhou Jichang, Lin Tinggui, et al., “Arhats Drinking Tea”

Have you watched the recent hit Song Dynasty drama, “Dream of the Red Chamber”? Actress Liu Yifei plays the lead character Zhao Pan'er, who is the owner of Zhao's Teahouse and stuns viewers with her fluid Tea preparation skills in her first appearance. From a tea enthusiast's perspective, the most captivating aspect of “Dream of the Red Chamber” is its portrayal of “Tea culture,” filled with ancient charm and texture, with tea utensils and tea-making techniques largely true to Song Dynasty style. Let's now appreciate the exquisite saucers used by ancient people for drinking tea.

In the Song Dynasty, tea was prepared by “beating and stirring” using a tea whisk to stir and strike the tea broth; saucers were designed to prevent scalding hands.

Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty: Gilt Silver Flower and Bird Patterned Tea Saucer and Saucer – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Collection

Ruyao Porcelain

Northern Song Dynasty: Ruyao Sky Blue Glazed Paulownia Petal Shaped Saucer – British Museum Collection

Guan Porcelain

Song Dynasty: Guan Porcelain Celadon Saucer – Palace Museum

Southern Song Dynasty Guan Porcelain Saucer – Excavated from the Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Site at Laohudong

Ding Kiln Porcelain

Northern Song Dynasty: Ding Kiln Tooth-colored Incised Floral Patterned Tea Saucer – National Palace Museum, Taipei Collection

Northern Song Dynasty: Ding Kiln Tooth-colored Incised Floral Patterned Tea Saucer – National Palace Museum, Taipei Collection

Northern Song Dynasty, 11th-12th Century: Ding Kiln White Porcelain Incised Lotus Patterned Saucer

Song Dynasty: Ding Kiln White Porcelain Incised Lozenge Patterned Saucer

Northern Song Dynasty Ding Kiln White Glazed “Guan” Marked Floral Saucer

Northern Song Dynasty: Ding Kiln Persimmon Glazed Tea Saucer (Whole) – Harvard Art Museums Collection, USA

Northern Song Dynasty: Ding Kiln Persimmon Glazed Tea Saucer (Interior) – Harvard Art Muse