Meirenjian
Traditional 美人肩壺Also called 圆珠美人肩
A classic Ming–Qing round Yixing teapot (圆器) named for its graceful, high, sloping shoulder line that flows without a break from the neck down into a full upper belly before tapering to a slender foot—likened in Chinese aesthetics to the Gently drooping shoulders of a classical court lady (削肩丰腹，宛若古代仕女柔美之肩).
On this page
- 1Knob
- 2Lid
- 3Spout
- 4Handle
- 5Body
- 6Base
Form#
- Body
- high-shouldered inverted-pear or plum-vase (梅瓶) profile: full, rounded upper shoulder (饱满溜肩) tapering gracefully downward to a narrow, poised lower belly and foot123
- Spout
- slender, upward-sweeping three-bend spout (三弯流) rising from the high shoulder in harmony with the feminine silhouette
- Handle
- graceful ear-loop handle (耳形垂把), full at the upper arch and tapering delicately toward the lower attachment
- Lid
- domed flush cap or inset lid (饱满嵌压盖) turned and paddled together with the mouth so its curve flows seamlessly into the sloping shoulder (盖肩一气呵成)
- Knob
- round pearl bead knob (圆珠钮) or small bridge knob crowning the domed lid
- Base
- small, neat circular ring foot (小圈足) accentuating the lift of the upper shoulder
Working volume#
Use the volume to the intended fill level, rather than the exterior dimensions or shape name. Leave room for the leaves and lid, and choose cups or a serving pitcher that can receive a complete infusion. Two pots of the same named form may have very different working capacities.
Variants and sub-types#
| Name | 中文 | Difference | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ming–Qing classical Meirenjian (high-waist) | 明清古制美人肩（高腰丰肩式，如陈鸣远／许龙文款） | Tall, poised baluster body whose sloping shoulder (溜肩) flows seamlessly from a sunken flush lid (嵌盖) into a full upper belly that tapers sharply toward a narrow ring foot, paired with a tall rising three-bend spout (三弯流) | 123 |
| Low-waist / plump Meirenjian | 矮腰美人肩（丰腹式） | Lower centre of gravity with a fuller, pear-like mid-belly and broader base, offering greater stability on the tea boat while preserving the unbroken lid-to-shoulder arc | 12 |
| Zhuni gongfu Meirenjian | 朱泥小美人肩（工夫茶式） | A smaller version retaining the sloping shoulder and curved spout. Clay, size and firing practice vary by maker. | 23 |
| Ribbed / melon-lobed Meirenjian | 菊瓣美人肩（筋纹美人肩） | Divides the sloping shoulder and tapering belly into 12 or 16 vertical chrysanthemum flutes (菊瓣筋纹) that radiate from the pearl knob through the flush lid to the foot ring | 12 |
History#
- late Ming to Qing (Kangxi–Qianlong)Adapted in Yixing zisha from the high-shouldered silhouette of porcelain 美人肩梅瓶 vases, requiring exacting paddle work (拍打身筒) so the unsupported high shoulder neither sags during drying nor warps in the kiln.1
- late Qing to modernProduced in both purple clay (紫泥) and red clay (朱泥) at Yixing and Chaozhou as one of the signature slender round forms (圆器传统名式).2
Sources#
Status and editorial notes sources cited
Sources are listed below. Their presence does not certify every claim; source-specific interpretations and unresolved questions are identified in the text. This page has not received independent expert approval.