The Mystical Firing of Zisha Clay Explained

The "mystical firing" of zisha clay refers to the process of preparing Zisha pottery, which is unique to the Yixing county of the Chinese province of Jiangsu. Before going into the actual topic, it is worth noting that when it comes to the ancient method of preparing zisha clay, limited information is available, especially when it comes to the part of mixing and firing it. This is due to the fact that potters in the Yixing area were not keen on revealing their secrets to other people. Yixing has been considered the pottery capital of China for a long time, and preserving this reputation meant people were not willing to sharing their trade secrets that have made their products famous both in the East and in Western countries.

A discussion of the "mystical firing" of zisha clay is not complete without touching on zisha itself. Zisha pottery is often classified into two: Di Cao Qing and Qing Shui Ni. This information should not be confused with Zisha clay, which is the collective name for all kaolinite-high clay found in the Yixing region. Zisha has three types that differ in color as well as the area where they are mined. The first one is also called zisha: this is purple and is mined in Huanglongshan. The second is the white clay banshanlu, which is found in the same area as zisha. Finally, there's zhusha. This is red in color, and can be found in Zhaozhuangshan.

Other colors in Yixing pottery can be achieved by employing one of three methods. First, potters can combine these basic clays in varying ratios to come up with different colors. They can also add natural coloring that is either mineral or plant-based to give their creation a new hue without altering its properties. And third - and this is what "mystical firing" is all about - zisha clay can be fired at various precise temperatures to produce a wide spectrum of colors without resorting to glazing. This is important because its being unglazed is one of Yixing pottery's defining characteristics - especially when it comes to Yixing teapots. The absence of a glaze is what enables Zisha tea ware to absorb a very small amount of the tea being brewed in it each time, which can greatly improve the quality of succeeding brews. But how is color-changing possible through firing, you ask?

The "mystical firing" of zisha clay can be explained by science easily. Zisha has high levels of iron oxide. Depending on the pigment and amount of iron oxide present in the clay and the temperature it is subjected to, it can change into different colors ranging from yellow and blue to black. This is not to say, though, that the process of changing the color of a piece is easy. A potter needs to be experienced and knowledgeable in the process of clay preparation to do this successfully - that is, without breaking the piece or altering its unique characteristics.


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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 and tea. We have a variety of teapots showcased in our online gallery. If you enjoyed this article, visit us now online at http://wwwbrownstoneshopper.com/contact/ and sign up for your FREE Report!


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