Yingqing tea set
Historical Origins: Yingqing porcelain, also known as "shadow blue porcelain" or "reflecting blue porcelain," was first produced during the Song Dynasty, with Jingdezhen as its core kiln. Due to its "bluish-white glaze and shimmering shadows," it was listed as a tribute during the Song Dynasty and was widely favored by the scholar-official class. The emergence of Yingqing porcelain embodies the Song people's "simple and elegant" aesthetic—a pursuit of subtle beauty over strong and ostentatious beauty.
Craftsmanship Features: Yingqing porcelain boasts a delicate, white body, mostly made from kaolin clay fired at high temperatures, resulting in a thin, transparent glaze. Its glaze color lies somewhere between that of celadon and white porcelain, with a hint of white in the green, and vice versa. The light changes depending on the lighting, calling it "yingqing."
Common processes include:
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Printing process: Exquisite patterns are first printed on the body, and then covered with transparent green glaze. The patterns are looming and particularly subtle.
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Thin and light: the body is thin and firm, the wall of the vessel is often as thin as paper, but it can withstand high-temperature firing.
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Glaze is smooth and lustrous: the glaze is crystal clear, warm like jade and has a delicate touch.
Compatibility with Tea: Yingqing tea has the effect of "simple and elegant tea". Its glaze is light and elegant, not overpowering the tea, but instead better sets off the tea's natural color:
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Brewing green tea and white tea: the clear green tea soup looks even clearer against the light green glaze of the shadow blue.
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Brewing black tea and oolong tea: The dark tea soup is immersed in the warm, shadowy green glaze, with distinct color layers and excellent visual effect.
Aesthetic Value: The Yingqing tea set inherits the aesthetic of "tranquility, elegance, and simplicity" of the Song Dynasty, and is imbued with a literati spirit. Its color shifts, "green like distant mountains, white like light clouds," evoke a sense of ink painting while sipping tea. It is both practical and highly ornamental, with great collectible value.
Modern Significance: Today's Yingqing tea sets inherit the craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty while incorporating modern aesthetics. With a wider variety of shapes, they are suitable for both daily use and gift giving. More than just a tea set, they are a cultural memory that has endured for millennia.
-Brewin Teaware
