Yixing Handmade Zisha Pottery Craft

The Yixing Zisha pottery craft is a traditional ceramic technique from Dingshu Town, Yixing, Jiangsu. Originating in the Song and Yuan dynasties, it flourished in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of over 600 years.

Zisha pottery uses locally sourced clay (e.g., purple clay, red clay, green clay) and specialized tools, formed through techniques like slab beating, piecing, and carving.

Its iconic product is the teapot, categorized into smooth (round/square), ribbed, and sculpted styles. Unglazed with distinctive natural texture, its porosity enhances tea flavor, aligning with Chinese tea culture.

Since the Ming Dynasty, decorative techniques like carving, inlay, and clay painting emerged, with carving (integrating poetry, calligraphy, and seals) epitomizing literati aesthetics.

Today, over-mining of rare Zisha clay and mass production threaten the craft’s survival, posing challenges to preserving this heritage.