A sourced reference on East Asian teaware
Explore East Asian teaware through its forms, materials and uses. Follow the sources to distinguish documented examples, interpretations and open questions.
300 entries43 research drafts365 sources
- Pear-shaped pot
- Gaiwan
- Julunzhu
- Lobed pot
- Fair pitcher
- Jian tea bowl
- Japanese teapot
- Teacup
- Korean teapot
- Korean teacup
Traditions#
Explore the reference#
- Learn25Guides that join the entries up
- Clays9What a clay name does and does not tell you
- Shapes55Named forms, drawn at one scale
- Wares38Production traditions and kiln sites
- Makers27Historical potters, from written sources
- Marks146Seals, inscriptions and the limits of attribution
- Sources365References and reading paths; evidence coverage varies by entry.
Start with a guide#
- 01How to read a Yixing clay nameA clay name may describe an ore, a workshop mixture or the colour of a fired pot. Learn to distinguish these meanings before comparing names such as zini, zhuni and duanni.
- 02Buying a teapot: checks you can do yourselfBegin with the pot you will actually use: its size, grip, lid and pour. Then learn how to separate observable features from claims about its clay, maker or age, and what a test report can establish.
- 03Chaozhou gongfu teawareA Chaozhou gongfu setting heats water, brews tea and serves small cups. Follow those tasks through the vessels, then compare local names, variations and the published regional specification.
- 04Taiwanese gongfu tea and tea-art teawareA Taiwanese tea-art table brings together brewing, sharing and smelling tea. Begin with the pitcher and aroma cup, then explore the movement, workshops and sometimes conflicting accounts of when these practices took shape.
- 05Tea vessels in Japan and Korea: Chadō, Senchadō and DaryeTea vessels travelled between China, Japan and Korea, but each place developed its own practices. Begin with the difference between whisked and steeped tea, then follow objects, texts and local craft traditions.
What this site does not do#
- No prices and no shop rankings.
- No verdict on whether any pot is genuine, and no claim against a named seller.
- No affiliate links and no advertising.
- No machine translation passed off as reviewed.