Yixing teapots are one of the most distinctive artifacts you can find in China. Definitely one of a kind, it has properties that make it a much prized possession for some people. There are many classifications for this type of pottery, with the most popular one being Zisha. Depending on how Zisha clay is composed, it is classified either as Qing Shui Ni or Di Cao Qing. For those who are unacquainted, this article would explain the differences between these 2 classes.
First of all, it would be nice to discover first the defining characteristics of Zisha, the parent type of these 2 classes of Chinese pottery. Zisha actually translates into "purple clay". The reasoning for this is its characteristic purple color. Other colors usually seen in this clay include red and brown. The main component of this clay is kaolin, quartz, and mica. Aside from these 3 minerals, this clay is also known for having a high content of iron oxide. Its texture is quite sandy, probably because of the different minerals contained in it. With this clay, the creation of high-quality Yixing pottery is made possible. Each craftsman has their own trade secrets on how they craft their pots, and as such their techniques are highly guarded.
Now that you know what Zisha teapots are made of, it's time to get into the meat of this article, which is defining the differences between Qing Shui Ni and Di Cao Qing. We would first start with Qing Shui Ni. The clay used for these pots is usually mined at sites where Zisha clay is mined. As such, this is the more common between the two. In fact, some locals even call it Pu Ni, which roughly translates to "normal clay". It is also called "clay type" because it is mainly composed of clay. In preparing Qing Shui Ni pottery, the clay is simply mixed with water. This results in your typical Zisha pot, something with that distinctive reddish brown color and high absorptivity.
This brings us to Di Cao Qing. Fundamentally speaking, it's the clay used that makes all the difference between it and Qing Shui Ni. Because the clay used for this pot is mined much deeper, it has a completely different character compared to other Zisha clay. The main difference is that Di Cao Qing clay actually has more fine particles compared to Qing Shui Ni, hence it being called "sand type". It impacts the pot in 3 different ways. One, the reddish brown color is actually darker. Two, it contains golden specks in it. And three, it's much more breathable than conventional Yixing pots.
Yixing pots are very valuable mainly because of the level of sophistication associated with them. And its qualities are dictated by a lot of factors, including the clay used in making them. Both Qing Shui Ni and Di Cao Qing are valuable in their own right, and are similar in a lot of ways. But it's their subtle differences that separate each other's value for both tea drinkers and Yixing collectors.
----------------------------------------------------
Karen Davis is an Yixing Teapot enthusiast and collected her first pot back in the 1980's. She is the founder of Brownstoneshopper, an online webstore that sells Yixing teapots. We have avariety of teapots showcased in our online gallery. If you enjoyed this article, visit us now online at http://www.brownstoneshopper.com/contact-us/ and sign up for your FREE Report!
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=309956
No comments:
Post a Comment