Yixing clay, also called zisha, is a special material collected in China, in the city of Yixing. This area gained popularity thanks to clay products, mainly teapots. They are made 20 km from the city of Yixing, where more than 70% of the population is employed in production.
Clay, which is similar to Yixing, is found in many places today, but the material described in the article has a high content of silicate fine particles and kaolin, which, after firing, allows to achieve a porous structure and oily sheen. None of the analogues has this effect.
Before Yixing pottery
A vessel with a lid, spout and handle has been around in ancient cultures since the Bronze Age. Previously, it was made of tin, gold, silver and copper, and was used during feasts for wine and water. However, then no one could have thought that tea could be brewed in it.
The appearance of the Chinese teapot is associated with a change in the way of drinking a tea drink. In ancient times, it was boiled in cauldrons, afterground crumbs were poured with boiling water, whipping into a thick foam. Then the tradition of brewing the tea leaf came into use, and then the teapot appeared.
Varieties of Yixing clay and its features
Yixing clay in products after firing can have open and closed pores, which provide slow cooling of the dishes, and when brewed, the tea “breathes”. Such material can be divided into three varieties:
- Zisha
- Zhusha;
- Ben Shan Lu.
To form a range of colors that range from black to yellow, clays are mixed, mineral and organic substances are added to them, and the firing temperature is changed during the production process. Yixing clay is strictly regulated, because its stocks are limited, therefore, in the end, it is possible to obtain high-quality products that are high in value.
Clay can be subdivided into two more types, as it lies in separate layers. The uppermost is plastic, all the following are fossilized. Soft material is considered the worst; everyday utensils are made from it. Yixing clay contains a huge amount of kaolin, which makes it possible to burn products by exposing them to temperatures up to 1200 ° C. If ordinary clay were used, then the products would simply melt. Because of this, teapots are fragile, but quite hard.
Yixing clay reviews
Consumers characterize the clay extracted from the Yixing area as loose andelastic material, characterized by high porosity and elasticity. People claim that this clay is quite malleable, which is why it can be given a variety of shapes, kneading as you like.
Vessels after firing, according to consumers, are able to absorb, but they do not allow moisture to pass through, which allows the tea leaf to get air through the clay walls and infuse well. According to the buyers of such dishes, the internal trace elements of the tea leaf interact with clay, this allows you to neutralize lead and destroy harmful compounds.
Technology Features
Chinese Yixing clay teapot is made using a rather complex technology. At the first stage, raw materials are extracted from the depths of the earth, which are divided into small elements, and then subjected to thorough drying, this stage takes several weeks and even years. The deadline will be determined on the spot, and it will depend on the chemical composition of the material and specific tasks. Today, this stage has been reduced, which is ensured by the use of vacuum drying.
If the following words can be applied to the product in front of you: teapot, Yixing clay, handmade, then you can be sure that the product was made according to a special algorithm. In the next step, the clay is ground until it turns into something like powder. It is sifted, washed well, the paste is filtered out, which is selected to compact and displace excess water.
The semi-finished product must be left in a closed container beforethe moment when the final molding starts. The described technology has a number of features, they involve the use of a huge set of special tools. The master should beat off the clay again before starting work until it reaches the desired thickness, equal to the wall thickness of the future product.
Work methodology
When a Turk is made from Yixing clay, craftsmen use the same technology. The next step is to form a round bottom, as well as a strip that will connect the elements together. As soon as the ends are mated, the master begins to mold the body, sealing the seams.
In the place where the spout will be located, a drain hole is prepared in advance. Once everything is ready, you can install the handle and spout. The outer and inner walls of the product are smoothed out, they must be leveled and brought to perfection.
Now we have to make a cover with a holder. The seal of the creator is put on the bottom, if a well-known master worked, then he leaves the brand on the outside, while in all other cases the stamp will be located on the inside. Walls can be decorated with applique or carvings.
Heat treatment
You may also be interested in the dishes described in the article. Yixing clay is used for its manufacture. When everything is ready, the teapot can be sent for firing. In order to prevent sintering, the neck and lid should be sprinkled with powder. Lid presentsa delicate moment in the making.
Clay shrinkage is unique and will depend on a number of factors, so a better fit after firing is indicative of the craftsman's level of experience. After firing, the product can be additionally inlaid with metals such as gold threads, gold and silver, this is true if a famous master participated in the work.
More about technology
In order to make a tea set from Yixing clay, you need to prepare a layout drawing, clay, make the product itself, and then burn it and encrust it. According to the masters, the work is quite painstaking, one might say, jewelry. It will take up to several weeks. However, there is an easier way that is used to make stamped teapots.
The technology lies in the fact that the plaster mold is filled with clay manually, as a result, the teapot will consist of two halves that are joined and the seams are polished. After that, the handle and spout are attached. The kettle described in the article has recently become quite popular among consumers. Yixing clay in its composition used to be fired in ancient kilns. Today, modern equipment is used, which is more efficient. After all, you can control the temperature level in it. But famous masters still burn their creations in ancient kilns, following the traditions of their ancestors.
History of Creation
The creator of the Yixing teapot is considered to be master Gong Chun, who lived in 1488-1566. To this day it is calledthe great sculptor of the "first forms", which today are a classic. Four more great people stood with him at the origins of the tradition. In the next generation, Li Zhong Fang, Shi Da-bin, and also Xu Yu-quan became known, who continued and preserved the tradition. Their work took place at the end of the Minsk era.
To this day, some of the surviving items are kept in museums in Europe and China. These craftsmen laid down an approach that combines form, energy, idea and execution. From the very beginning of its existence, Yixing clay teapots were sent to the capital of Ninjing, which was considered the center of the cultural elite. It was there that the bar was set high for the creators.
A little more history: about size and appearance
A set of Yixing clay, or rather teapots, since ancient times could be classified in two directions, namely floral and geometric. Craftsmen drew inspiration from nature, using plant elements and transforming them into shapes.
The geometric variety of such dishes was more spherical and cubic, the products were made in a strict manner, they had harmonious proportions, clear lines and expressive features. If we compare the sizes of the first teapots with those currently unknown, then they had an impressive height - up to 30 cm. Green, purple and yellow clay served as raw materials.
Conclusion
Today, the mines where clay mining used to be have been closed to the public. To start mining, it is necessary to obtain a special license at the administrative level. On theprivate warehouses store a huge amount of raw materials that were previously mined, and every year its value increases.
Hard clays, which are the most valuable and contain a huge amount of quartz mica, occur in thin layers. Their thickness can range from 10 cm to 1 m. You can find them at different depths. Layers of purple, yellowish and grey-green hues are called dragon veins. They have different qualities, which are influenced by many factors.
