China is the birthplace of Tea and a civilization with a long-standing tea culture. The discovery and utilization of tea by the Chinese dates back to the distant pre-Qin period. After thousands of years of accumulation and development, tea gradually formed its unique charm and rich cultural characteristics in China. In addition to various types of tea to meet people's daily drinking needs, a set of spiritual qualities have emerged for brewing, appreciating, smelling, drinking, and savoring tea, allowing people to cultivate their sentiments and nurture their dispositions.

Given China's vast territory and abundant resources, there are many kinds of delicacies, so it has always been said that “fine food should be served on fine vessels,” and this applies to tea as well. When drinking tea, one pays attention to “color, aroma, taste, shape, and vessel,” where “vessel” refers to the utensils used for drinking tea.

Before the Sui and Tang Dynasties

In “The Classic of Tea,” the tea sage Lu Yu states, “Tea as a beverage originated with the divine farmer Shennong.” Tea utensils appeared alongside the discovery and utilization of tea leaves. Before the Sui and Tang dynasties, people consumed tea as medicine or as part of dishes, without distinction between tea and food. As a result, the utensils used for cooking tea and meals were almost identical, and they were shared with wine and food. The oldest known tea utensil was called a “can,” which had a small mouth and a large belly, made of earthenware, and had an ancient, crude appearance. Over time, glazed pottery tea utensils with smooth surfaces and bright lusters also emerged, with vibrant colors that highlighted their artistic qualities.

Sui and Tang Periods

During the Sui and Tang dynasties, as people pursued higher quality of life and the promotion of tea drinking, tea gained greater importance in society. People explored the art of tea drinking, integrating Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, thus pioneering the spirit of tea. In the stage of artistic tea tasting, people not only enjoyed the taste of tea itself but also began to pay attention to the elegance and completeness of tea utensils, leading to the gradual establishment of a specialized system of tea-drinking utensils. During the early Tang Dynasty, when social customs were simple and tea drinking was popular, tea utensils evolved from green and white glazed pottery to porcelain, with a focus on simplicity and practicality. In the prosperous Tang period, when extravagance and luxury prevailed, tea utensils reached a peak in the tea culture, and even in wealthy families, there were metal tea utensils made of gold, Silver, copper, and tin, highlighting the beauty of tea utensils and enhancing the enjoyment of tea.

In “The Classic of Tea,” Lu Yu mentions, “Twenty-four tea utensils were made, stored in a basket, admired far and wide.” The twenty-four tea utensils referred to here include: a wind stove (for heating water), a broom (made of bamboo fibers for tea picking), a charcoal mallet (an iron tool for breaking charcoal), fire tongs (for handling charcoal), a kettle (for boiling water and brewing tea), a stand (wooden, to hold the kettle), paper bags (for storing tea), a mill and whisk (for grinding and whisking tea), a sieve and box (for sieving and storing tea), a measure (for measuring tea), a water container (for storing water), a strainer (for filtering), a ladle (for ladling water), a bamboo spatula (for stirring the center of the boiling water to release the tea essence), a salt dish and spoon (for adding salt to tea during the Tang Dynasty to reduce bitterness and enhance sweetness), a bowl (for holding hot water), a cup (for tasting tea), a basket (for storing cups), a brush (for cleaning), a washing basin (for storing water to wash utensils), a tray (for collecting sediment), a towel (for wiping utensils), a display stand (for displaying tea utensils), and a basket (for storing all tea utensils after use). Of course, these twenty-four tea utensils were not commonly used by ordinary households during the Tang Dynasty; they were usually equipped by scholars and aristocratic families who could afford such complete sets of tea utensils.

Song Dynasty

Different from the naturalistic approach to tea drinking in the Tang Dynasty, as the extravagant social customs grew more prevalent, the custom of “tea fighting” emerged in the Song Dynasty. “The color of tea is white, suitable for black bowls. Those produced in Jian'an are dark blue, with patterns resembling rabbit fur. Their walls are slightly thick, making them retain heat for a long time and difficult to cool down, which makes them particularly useful. Those made elsewhere are either thin or purple, and are inferior.” To better match the color and aroma of tea, people had a unique style when selecting tea utensils.

The tea utensils used for drinking tea in the Song Dynasty were mainly tea bowls, available in five types: black glaze, green glaze, celadon, white glaze, and brown glaze. They had full shapes and exquisite appearances. Among them, “Jian bowls” were considered the best, primarily featuring black-glazed porcelain bowls, stands, and saucers, with a focus on the color of the porcelain and the texture and uniform thickness of the “bowl” itself. During tea fighting, the snow-white tea broth contrasted with the black glaze around the Jian bowl, making the water marks clear and allowing people to distinguish the quality of the tea; the Jian bowl had a wide mouth and a narrow bottom, resembling a funnel, providing enough space to accommodate the frothy foam; the sides of the bowl were thicker, maintaining a moderate temperature and ensuring that the tea remained “warm for a long time.” Occasionally, beautiful patterns shimmering under sunlight could be seen on the surface of Jian bowls, some resembling dense rabbit fur, known as “rabbit fur markings,” and others resembling cloud patterns on the neck of a partridge, known as “partridge markings,” both of which were highly valuable.

Ming Dynasty

The development of tea culture and tea utensils in the Yuan Dynasty was consistent with its historical progression. Due to the nomadic lifestyle and emphasis on martial pursuits over arts, there was no significant change in the development of tea and tea utensils. The Yuan Dynasty played a transitional role. Upon entering the Ming Dynasty, tea utensils initially had a return-to-nature feel, then transitioned from frugality and simplicity to extravagance and luxury. People became increasingly adept at the art of tea, paying more attention to tea brewing, tea color observation, cup pouring, and pot warming. In the Ming Dynasty, the selection of appropriate tea utensils was emphasized, achieving unity in functionality and artistry. Influenced by this, tea utensils were finally defined as a complete category in the Ming Dynasty, no longer mixed with containers for food and alcohol, mainly referring to utensils for drinking tea, a tradition that continues to this day.

The main tea utensils in the Ming Dynasty were porcelain teapots and purple clay utensils. People no longer sought a match between the tea broth and the utensils themselves but instead focused more on the inherent charm of the tea leaves. Porcelain in the Ming Dynasty was primarily celadon, later transitioning to white porcelain, especially cobalt-blue and polychrome, which were very popular. For example, Jingdezhen cobalt-blue porcelain, known today, features blue and white patterns intertwined on the porcelain itself. The glaze is bright and transparent, the colors are clean and refreshing, evoking a sense of tranquility, enhancing the charm of cobalt-blue tea utensils. Another famous Ming Dynasty tea utensil was the Purple Clay Teapot, made from purple clay, red clay, and Tuan Shan clay. It had a delicate texture, allowing air to pass through without leaking and withstanding heat without cracking. According to “Records of Superfluous Things,” “Among teapots, those made of sandstone are the best, as they do not overpower the aroma and lack the smell of boiling water.” Sandstone teapots ensure that people can appreciate the high-quality color and aroma of the tea, making them considered excellent among tea utensils. Purple clay teapots emphasize the aesthetics of tea tasting, water quality, and utensils, encompassing the natural and rustic aspects of Chinese Tea art while blending the Confucian and Taoist preferences for harmony and restraint.

Qing Dynasty

The Qing Dynasty was a multi-ethnic society characterized by ethnic integration and economic prosperity, with a rich and diverse lifestyle for the people. The upper-class ethnic culture and spiritual customs of