Yixing Zisha Teapot in the Qing Imperial Collection and ?Relevant Issues
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Wang, Liang-Chung
Abstract
For the past decade, there has been an intensified discussion on the Yixing Zisha teapot in the Qing imperial collection in the academia. This thesis seeks to demonstrate from a historical studies’ perspective, by focusing on the Yixing Zisha teapot in High Qing court, how Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong emperors used the said teapot to express each of their unique ascetic tastes. In order to emphasize the unique qualities of the Yixing Zisha teapot in the imperial court, this thesis will first explain the development of the Yixing Zisha teapot in the late Ming Dynasty, including, but not limited to, the origin of the Yixing Zisha pottery, and the relation between the Yixing Zisha teapot and the late Ming literati’s palate and ascetic tastes. This thesis will further compare and contrast the usage and design of the Yixing Zisha pottery and other metal wares produced in the same historical period, and explain the close relationship between the two. Further, this thesis will analyze the rise in popularity of the Yixing Zisha teapot in the context of the culinary history of the late Ming dynasty. Close analysis indicates that the Yixing Zisha teapot came to establish itself as the quintessence of tea ware due to the various tea tasting trends among the late Ming literati, and how the literati used these differences to create class distinction among themselves. Although the academia has been focused largely on the painted enamels(Yixing body) produced during the Kangxi period, this thesis seeks to demonstrate that the imperial court’s decision to use Yixing body as a material to produce painted enamels was in fact influenced by the late Ming literati’s high appreciation of the Yixing Zisha teapot. This thesis also seeks to show that the painted enamels(Yixing body) have been influenced by the European stoneware painted enamels – a close comparison of European stoneware painted enamels and the painted enamels(Yixing body) reveals that the latter shares features such as transparent glaze layer or decorative red paints as the former. Further, by comparing written records on the Yixing Zisha teapot in the Archives of Imperial Workshop (Huo Ji Dang) of the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods with the existing Yixing Zisha teapot, it is evident that Yongzheng was very fond of the Yixing Zisha teapot. For example, records show that Yongzheng requested the Jingdezheng Imperial Kiln to produce Yixing Zisha teapots of the same design several times. In contrast to Yongzheng’s fondness for a particular design, Qianlong on the other hand, ordered the Yixing Zisha teapot to be created from various materials, and wanted the designs of the teapots to be inspired by the unique forms and shapes of various materials used. Qianlong’s poetry indicates that the Yixing Zisha teapot produced during his reign was heavily influenced by the taste of the late Ming literati. Lastly, this thesis will examine the effect of the exportation of the Yixing Zisha teapot to Europe, Japan and the Ryuku region on the pottery production of each region. Additionally, by looking at the existing Yixing Zisha teapots found in Japan and the Ryuku region, this thesis attempts to examine whether the following existing theories regarding the Yixing Zisha teapot hold true: the Yixing Zisha teapot designs have evolved to cater towards western taste.
Subjects
Qing court
Imperial workshop
Yixing Zisha teapot
Painted enamels
Scholar’s taste
Interaction
Type
thesis