We can hardly imagine the complex and subtle physical and chemical changes that clay undergoes at over 1,300 degrees Celsius to form such dazzling and magical patterns.
They resemble the stars in the night sky, clouds in the blue sky, the fur of a rabbit, and the raindrops of a bird.
Their ever-changing forms never fail to awaken within us some visual experience derived from the myriad wonders of nature.
Between the unfamiliar and the familiar, they evoke endless imagination.
Originally indistinguishable in color, these clay bowls encountered the gifts of fate through intense fire, ultimately presenting themselves to the world in a multitude of floral patterns, each beautiful in its own right.
From then on, they shone brightly and stood unparalleled.
This is the Jianzhan of China, with a history spanning over 1,000 years.
As the name suggests, Jianzhan refers to the black-glazed tea bowls made in Jian kiln, originating from present-day Jianyang District in Nanping, Fujian Province.
The popularity of the Song Dynasty’s tea-picking culture made Jianzhan the star of tea ceremonies, beloved by everyone from royalty to commoners.
Numerous poems celebrating Jianzhan have been passed down through the ages, such as the classic line from a poem by Song Huizong: “In a night of brewing clouds with rabbit fur bowls, one can forget their worries in a land of intoxication.”
During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the tea-picking culture gradually faded, leading to the decline of Jianzhan and eventually a loss of its crafting techniques.
After a gap of over 600 years, the first imitation Song-style Jianzhan was born in Jianyang in 1981, marking the beginning of the revival of Jianzhan craftsmanship and its rebirth.